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| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Storm Ophelia: second person killed in Ireland, police confirm - latest updates | Storm Ophelia: second person killed in Ireland, police confirm - latest updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.04pm BST | |
| 17:04 | |
| What we know so far: | |
| Three people have been killed as tropical storm Ophelia batters Ireland with winds of more than 100mph. Waterford council said a woman was killed when high winds brought down a tree on her car in Aglish. A man in his early 30s died after an accident with his chainsaw while trying to clear a fallen tree in Ballybrado, Tipperary. Another man died in Ravensdale, near Dundalk, close to the border with Northern Ireland, when a tree struck his car. | |
| At least 360,000 electricity customers are without power amid scores of reports of fallen trees and power lines. The network operator warned that the majority of those already affected would be without power tonight and 5% to 10% could be without electricity for up to 10 days. Northern Ireland was also affected, with 18,000 customers suffering a loss of power, including the Stormont parliament. | |
| The force of Ophelia was such that it blew roofs of buildings in Cork. Douglas Community school saw the roof of its gym ripped off and the roof of Cork City football club’s stadium collapsed. A gust of 118mph was recorded off the coast of Ireland. | |
| The Irish prime minister, Leo Varadkar, issued a personal appeal for citizens of the Republic to remain indoors. He described the impact of Ophelia on Ireland as a “national emergency”. | |
| All schools in the Republic of Ireland will remain closed tomorrow in the interests of “child safety”, the education minister announced. The Northern Ireland department of education followed suit. Cork airport said no more flights would be departing today, while public transport in the Republic of Ireland will not be resuming until 5am on Tuesday at the earliest. | |
| Bill Clinton’s visit to Belfast was cancelled because of the storm. The former US president was due to meet political parties represented in the Stormont parliament to urge them to find a way to restore the power-sharing government. Government buildings in Northern Ireland have been closed. | |
| The Met Office has extended an amber weather warning to parts of Scotland, Wales and northern England with winds threatening power cuts and falling debris. A series of flood alerts and warnings are in place for south west and north west England. Planes have been grounded at Manchester airport, with 20 flights cancelled and passengers warned to check ahead before travelling to the airport. | |
| Waves of up to 27ft high were recorded at sea as a rare warning for hurricane-force 12 winds was issued for shipping areas south of Ireland. | |
| Parts of the UK were covered by an eerie red/orange sky. Experts said the hue was caused by Hurricane Ophelia dragging in tropical air and dust from the Sahara. | |
| 5.02pm BST | |
| 17:02 | |
| The number of customers without electricity in Northern Ireland has soared. | |
| NIE says 18,000 customers are currently without power in NI amid Storm Ophelia: https://t.co/zaiu6VXPEu | |
| 4.45pm BST | |
| 16:45 | |
| The department of education in Northern Ireland has followed in the footsteps of its southern Irish counterpart by instructing all schools to close tomorrow. | |
| @Education_NI has announced that all schools should close tomorrow (Monday 16 October) as precautionary measure in light of weather warnings | |
| 4.37pm BST | 4.37pm BST |
| 16:37 | 16:37 |
| The latest official update warns that storm Ophelia will “bring further violent and destructive winds for a time, with gusts of 120 and 150km/h”, as well as flooding, posing a threat to life and property. | The latest official update warns that storm Ophelia will “bring further violent and destructive winds for a time, with gusts of 120 and 150km/h”, as well as flooding, posing a threat to life and property. |
| Latest Met Éireann Weather Update - please remain indoors until the storm has passed #Ophelia pic.twitter.com/Dynv1APHzF | Latest Met Éireann Weather Update - please remain indoors until the storm has passed #Ophelia pic.twitter.com/Dynv1APHzF |
| 4.21pm BST | 4.21pm BST |
| 16:21 | 16:21 |
| Henry McDonald | Henry McDonald |
| The Gardai have confirmed that another man has died in Ravensdale, near Dundalk, close to the border with Northern Ireland, as a result of a falling tree. | The Gardai have confirmed that another man has died in Ravensdale, near Dundalk, close to the border with Northern Ireland, as a result of a falling tree. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.22pm BST | at 4.22pm BST |
| 3.59pm BST | 3.59pm BST |
| 15:59 | 15:59 |
| Henry McDonald | Henry McDonald |
| Ahead of her dinner in Brussels this evening, Theresa May spoke with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar this afternoon. She expressed her condolences over the loss of two lives so far in Ireland (since up to three) connected with storm Ophelia. | Ahead of her dinner in Brussels this evening, Theresa May spoke with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar this afternoon. She expressed her condolences over the loss of two lives so far in Ireland (since up to three) connected with storm Ophelia. |
| A Downing Street spokesman said: | A Downing Street spokesman said: |
| On storm Ophelia, the prime minister expressed her sympathies for the loss of life and said the UK government stood ready to provide any support if requested. | On storm Ophelia, the prime minister expressed her sympathies for the loss of life and said the UK government stood ready to provide any support if requested. |
| 3.57pm BST | 3.57pm BST |
| 15:57 | 15:57 |
| Third person reported dead | Third person reported dead |
| A person in Dundalk, near the border with Northern Ireland, has died after a tree fell on their car, taking the death toll in Ireland as a result of the storm to three, Dublin-based station 98FM and others are reporting. | A person in Dundalk, near the border with Northern Ireland, has died after a tree fell on their car, taking the death toll in Ireland as a result of the storm to three, Dublin-based station 98FM and others are reporting. |
| 3.52pm BST | 3.52pm BST |
| 15:52 | 15:52 |
| Schools in Ireland will not reopen tomorrow, the Irish minister for education has announced, citing the need to ensure child safety. | Schools in Ireland will not reopen tomorrow, the Irish minister for education has announced, citing the need to ensure child safety. |
| Following careful consideration by the National Emergency Coordination Group, the Department of Education and Skills, has decided that all schools will remain closed tomorrow #Ophelia | Following careful consideration by the National Emergency Coordination Group, the Department of Education and Skills, has decided that all schools will remain closed tomorrow #Ophelia |
| This decision was primarily taken in the interests of child safety and on the basis of information available in what is a developing situation #Ophelia | This decision was primarily taken in the interests of child safety and on the basis of information available in what is a developing situation #Ophelia |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.53pm BST | at 3.53pm BST |
| 3.51pm BST | 3.51pm BST |
| 15:51 | 15:51 |
| Unsurprisingly, Cork airport has said there will be no more flights today, with a video illustrating why. | Unsurprisingly, Cork airport has said there will be no more flights today, with a video illustrating why. |
| No flights will depart @CorkAirport for the remainder of today. Please check arriving flight status with your airline in advance of travel pic.twitter.com/bzezFyJIHE | No flights will depart @CorkAirport for the remainder of today. Please check arriving flight status with your airline in advance of travel pic.twitter.com/bzezFyJIHE |
| 3.42pm BST | 3.42pm BST |
| 15:42 | 15:42 |
| Henry McDonald | Henry McDonald |
| Northern Ireland Electricity has announced that 1,300 customers are without power as Storm Ophelia starts to batter the region this afternoon. | Northern Ireland Electricity has announced that 1,300 customers are without power as Storm Ophelia starts to batter the region this afternoon. |
| NIE is reporting what it describes as “widespread damage” across Northern Ireland. As the storm system rolls over the north of Ireland, the rail link between Belfast to Dublin has been temporarily shut down. | NIE is reporting what it describes as “widespread damage” across Northern Ireland. As the storm system rolls over the north of Ireland, the rail link between Belfast to Dublin has been temporarily shut down. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.44pm BST | at 3.44pm BST |
| 3.36pm BST | 3.36pm BST |
| 15:36 | 15:36 |
| The Associated Press reports that the wind speed off Cork has reached 118mph. | The Associated Press reports that the wind speed off Cork has reached 118mph. |
| Most powerful gust yet recorded as #Ophelia riles Ireland: 190 kph (118 mph) on Fastnet Rock off Cork coast. Photo from @IrishCoastGuard. pic.twitter.com/oY88TE5DM4 | Most powerful gust yet recorded as #Ophelia riles Ireland: 190 kph (118 mph) on Fastnet Rock off Cork coast. Photo from @IrishCoastGuard. pic.twitter.com/oY88TE5DM4 |
| Meanwhile wind speeds in Wales are also increasing, hitting 77mph. | Meanwhile wind speeds in Wales are also increasing, hitting 77mph. |
| Winds have increased markedly in west Wales over the last hour, top gust 77mph in Aberdaron. #Ophelia CF pic.twitter.com/md0BGXn7Yh | Winds have increased markedly in west Wales over the last hour, top gust 77mph in Aberdaron. #Ophelia CF pic.twitter.com/md0BGXn7Yh |
| 3.32pm BST | 3.32pm BST |
| 15:32 | 15:32 |
| Coastal defences in Galway, on Ireland’s west coast, have been overwhelmed. | Coastal defences in Galway, on Ireland’s west coast, have been overwhelmed. |
| Coastal defences completely breached at Salthill, Galway. The Atlantic now extends to the promenade. #Ophelia pic.twitter.com/qF9B47Ty3i | Coastal defences completely breached at Salthill, Galway. The Atlantic now extends to the promenade. #Ophelia pic.twitter.com/qF9B47Ty3i |
| 3.23pm BST | 3.23pm BST |
| 15:23 | 15:23 |
| Matthew Holmes | Matthew Holmes |
| Readers around Ireland and the UK have been getting in touch to share their experiences of the storm as it passes by where they live.Sam, in Timoleague, south-west of Cork, shared images of trees strewn across local roads, which he said were mostly deserted: | Readers around Ireland and the UK have been getting in touch to share their experiences of the storm as it passes by where they live.Sam, in Timoleague, south-west of Cork, shared images of trees strewn across local roads, which he said were mostly deserted: |
| Conor Graham, in Cork, has described missile-like tiles flying off buildings and implores other readers to stay safe. | Conor Graham, in Cork, has described missile-like tiles flying off buildings and implores other readers to stay safe. |
| There are also multiple reports of that red-tinged sun – as experts have said debris from the storm is causing a haze in areas as far away as Chesterfield, Solihull and Surrey. | There are also multiple reports of that red-tinged sun – as experts have said debris from the storm is causing a haze in areas as far away as Chesterfield, Solihull and Surrey. |
| You can share your experiences using the form here or with the GuardianWitness contribute buttons on this page, but please think of your safety first when recording or sharing content. | You can share your experiences using the form here or with the GuardianWitness contribute buttons on this page, but please think of your safety first when recording or sharing content. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.17pm BST | at 4.17pm BST |
| 3.18pm BST | 3.18pm BST |
| 15:18 | 15:18 |
| 360,000 homes without power | 360,000 homes without power |
| The Irish Republic’s Electricity Supply Board has said that 360,000 customers are now without power due to Storm Ophelia. | The Irish Republic’s Electricity Supply Board has said that 360,000 customers are now without power due to Storm Ophelia. |
| The energy supplier warned that more outages are expected and that repair operations could take several days. Meanwhile, power cuts are starting to happen in Northern Ireland, including at the Stormont Parliament, where Bill Clinton was meant to be visiting today. | The energy supplier warned that more outages are expected and that repair operations could take several days. Meanwhile, power cuts are starting to happen in Northern Ireland, including at the Stormont Parliament, where Bill Clinton was meant to be visiting today. |
| 3.14pm BST | 3.14pm BST |
| 15:14 | 15:14 |
| Henry McDonald | Henry McDonald |
| An international photojournalist has contacted the Guardian with a graphic account of what it was like to be in an aircraft trying to land in Dublin in the middle of Storm Ophelia. You can see footage of another plane’s precarious landing in Dublin in an earlier update. | An international photojournalist has contacted the Guardian with a graphic account of what it was like to be in an aircraft trying to land in Dublin in the middle of Storm Ophelia. You can see footage of another plane’s precarious landing in Dublin in an earlier update. |
| Writing from an Aer Lingus plane after it just touched down a few minutes ago, Paulo Nunes Santos wanted to praise the female pilot who guided flight EI483 from Lisbon safely home. | Writing from an Aer Lingus plane after it just touched down a few minutes ago, Paulo Nunes Santos wanted to praise the female pilot who guided flight EI483 from Lisbon safely home. |
| Santos, originally from Portugal but who has lived in Dublin for 15 years, said: | Santos, originally from Portugal but who has lived in Dublin for 15 years, said: |
| I’ve been in hundreds, if not thousands of flights, but never experienced this level of turbulence. | I’ve been in hundreds, if not thousands of flights, but never experienced this level of turbulence. |
| We only started feeling it more or less as we started approaching via Cork. The pilot was great. The plane shook like mad and the approach to the runway was the worst I have experienced. But the pilot, she was brilliant. | We only started feeling it more or less as we started approaching via Cork. The pilot was great. The plane shook like mad and the approach to the runway was the worst I have experienced. But the pilot, she was brilliant. |
| Oddly there was no panic among the passengers. Every clapped and applauded the pilot, we were told her name is Niamh Jennings. You feel the huge sense of relief in the plane. | Oddly there was no panic among the passengers. Every clapped and applauded the pilot, we were told her name is Niamh Jennings. You feel the huge sense of relief in the plane. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.41pm BST | at 3.41pm BST |
| 3.02pm BST | 3.02pm BST |
| 15:02 | 15:02 |
| Irish police have confirmed that a man in his 30s was killed while clearing a tree with a chainsaw in Ballybrado, Tipperary. | Irish police have confirmed that a man in his 30s was killed while clearing a tree with a chainsaw in Ballybrado, Tipperary. |
| Irish death toll in #Ophelia rises to 2. Police say Tipperary man in 30s mortally wounded by own chainsaw as he cleared a felled tree. pic.twitter.com/bIaim1f8Xw | Irish death toll in #Ophelia rises to 2. Police say Tipperary man in 30s mortally wounded by own chainsaw as he cleared a felled tree. pic.twitter.com/bIaim1f8Xw |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.41pm BST | at 3.41pm BST |