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Ireland Reckons With Damage From Its Deadliest Storm for Decades Ireland Reckons With Damage From Its Deadliest Storm for Decades
(about 9 hours later)
DUBLIN — Ireland dived into a cleanup effort on Tuesday after one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the northeastern Atlantic tore across the island, killing at least three people and leaving a trail of destruction.DUBLIN — Ireland dived into a cleanup effort on Tuesday after one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the northeastern Atlantic tore across the island, killing at least three people and leaving a trail of destruction.
Officials said hundreds of thousands of people in the country remained without power on Tuesday, after the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia tore roofs off buildings in Ireland’s largest cities, Dublin and Cork, and pushed ocean water over sea walls on its west coast.Officials said hundreds of thousands of people in the country remained without power on Tuesday, after the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia tore roofs off buildings in Ireland’s largest cities, Dublin and Cork, and pushed ocean water over sea walls on its west coast.
The national utility the Electricity Supply Board warned that it could take up to 10 days to restore power to all 245,000 homes and businesses that were without electricity, which represented 12 percent of the network.The national utility the Electricity Supply Board warned that it could take up to 10 days to restore power to all 245,000 homes and businesses that were without electricity, which represented 12 percent of the network.
Electrical outages also meant that some water treatment plants could no longer operate. “Cobh and Youghal have run out of water,” the Government News Service quoted the utility Irish Water as saying on Tuesday, referring to towns in County Cork. “A number of water treatment plants have lost power. We’re working to restore.”Electrical outages also meant that some water treatment plants could no longer operate. “Cobh and Youghal have run out of water,” the Government News Service quoted the utility Irish Water as saying on Tuesday, referring to towns in County Cork. “A number of water treatment plants have lost power. We’re working to restore.”
Katherine Walshe, the operational planning and emergency manager at Irish Water, said 20,000 households were without water, but that number could leap to 310,000 if power were not restored by Tuesday afternoon.Katherine Walshe, the operational planning and emergency manager at Irish Water, said 20,000 households were without water, but that number could leap to 310,000 if power were not restored by Tuesday afternoon.
“We have a number of tankers lined up and they will be going to the locations throughout the day,” Ms. Walshe said in an interview on RTE, the national broadcaster.“We have a number of tankers lined up and they will be going to the locations throughout the day,” Ms. Walshe said in an interview on RTE, the national broadcaster.
Ophelia, downgraded from a hurricane to a post-tropical storm before it struck Ireland on Sunday, was the 10th hurricane of the 2017 Atlantic season.Ophelia, downgraded from a hurricane to a post-tropical storm before it struck Ireland on Sunday, was the 10th hurricane of the 2017 Atlantic season.
It made landfall on the southwestern coast of Ireland early Monday, lashing the country with punishing rain and bringing powerful winds to all 26 of the republic’s counties. At Fastnet Rock, the country’s most southerly point, wind speeds reached 176 kilometers, or 109 miles, an hour.It made landfall on the southwestern coast of Ireland early Monday, lashing the country with punishing rain and bringing powerful winds to all 26 of the republic’s counties. At Fastnet Rock, the country’s most southerly point, wind speeds reached 176 kilometers, or 109 miles, an hour.
Ireland has little experience dealing with such powerful storms, and the national weather service, Met Eireann, said Ophelia was the most powerful storm recorded that far east in the Atlantic. The prime minister, Leo Varadkar, told reporters on Monday that it was the fiercest storm to strike the island since Hurricane Debbie in 1961, which killed 11 people.Ireland has little experience dealing with such powerful storms, and the national weather service, Met Eireann, said Ophelia was the most powerful storm recorded that far east in the Atlantic. The prime minister, Leo Varadkar, told reporters on Monday that it was the fiercest storm to strike the island since Hurricane Debbie in 1961, which killed 11 people.
Ophelia left three dead in Ireland on Monday. Two motorists were killed when their cars were struck by falling trees, one in County Waterford and the other in County Louth. A third person was killed in County Tipperary when a tree fell on him as he was using a chain saw to clear debris.Ophelia left three dead in Ireland on Monday. Two motorists were killed when their cars were struck by falling trees, one in County Waterford and the other in County Louth. A third person was killed in County Tipperary when a tree fell on him as he was using a chain saw to clear debris.
Mr. Varadkar told RTE that the “full resources of the state” would be deployed in the cleanup operation, and he advised continued caution. “We have had three tragic deaths, but the most important thing is that no one else loses their life,” he told the broadcaster. “There are still dangers, even if the storm is gone.”Mr. Varadkar told RTE that the “full resources of the state” would be deployed in the cleanup operation, and he advised continued caution. “We have had three tragic deaths, but the most important thing is that no one else loses their life,” he told the broadcaster. “There are still dangers, even if the storm is gone.”
Insurance Ireland, an umbrella group of insurers, estimated storm damage of up to 800 million euros, or $944 million.Insurance Ireland, an umbrella group of insurers, estimated storm damage of up to 800 million euros, or $944 million.
Schools in Ireland remained closed for a second day on Tuesday to allow the authorities to assess possible structural damage. Ophelia tore roofs off school buildings, department stores, apartment complexes and sports arenas around the country.Schools in Ireland remained closed for a second day on Tuesday to allow the authorities to assess possible structural damage. Ophelia tore roofs off school buildings, department stores, apartment complexes and sports arenas around the country.
The storm struck Britain late Monday and early Tuesday, although it had weakened considerably by that point, officials said.The storm struck Britain late Monday and early Tuesday, although it had weakened considerably by that point, officials said.
Residents in the areas most affected by the rains, like Scotland and Northern England, were warned of possible floods and were advised to remain indoors Monday night. But Tuesday morning showed the damage in Britain to be minimal compared with that in Ireland. There were no reports of deaths in Britain in connection with the storm.Residents in the areas most affected by the rains, like Scotland and Northern England, were warned of possible floods and were advised to remain indoors Monday night. But Tuesday morning showed the damage in Britain to be minimal compared with that in Ireland. There were no reports of deaths in Britain in connection with the storm.
Perhaps the storm’s most notable effect on Britain was that its powerful winds carried dust from Sahara sandstorms and Iberian wildfires north, turning the sky over much of the country a rusty orange.Perhaps the storm’s most notable effect on Britain was that its powerful winds carried dust from Sahara sandstorms and Iberian wildfires north, turning the sky over much of the country a rusty orange.
On Tuesday, Britain’s national weather service, The Met Office, warned of wind gusts of up to 70 miles an hour on the east coast of Northern England and in Southern Scotland. The office said “a spell of very windy weather is likely” that could disrupt mass transit and lead to power outages and property damage. On Tuesday, Britain’s national weather service, the Met Office, warned of wind gusts of up to 70 miles an hour on the east coast of Northern England and in Southern Scotland. The office said “a spell of very windy weather is likely” that could disrupt mass transit and lead to power failures and property damage.