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| NI floods warning: Coastal areas hit but Belfast escapes | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| High tides and strong winds have caused flooding in some coastal areas of Northern Ireland but the tide peaked without major flooding in Belfast. | High tides and strong winds have caused flooding in some coastal areas of Northern Ireland but the tide peaked without major flooding in Belfast. |
| The emergency services had warned of a possible tidal surge hitting the city and police built walls of sandbags in parts of central and east Belfast. | The emergency services had warned of a possible tidal surge hitting the city and police built walls of sandbags in parts of central and east Belfast. |
| The tide peaked at about 12:10 GMT and the water levels have been falling. | The tide peaked at about 12:10 GMT and the water levels have been falling. |
| However, the River Bann flooded part of Coleraine, County Londonderry, and several coastal paths were impassable. | However, the River Bann flooded part of Coleraine, County Londonderry, and several coastal paths were impassable. |
| The main Newtownards to Portaferry coastal road in County Down has been closed, and there was flooding in parts of Holywood and Millisle in County Down, and Carrickfergus, County Antrim. | |
| The high tides reached the County Antrim coast earlier on Friday morning and strong waves are still crashing to shore. | The high tides reached the County Antrim coast earlier on Friday morning and strong waves are still crashing to shore. |
| East Antrim MLA Oliver McMullan has urged people to stay away from the Coast Road in Cushendall due to safety fears and he has called for the beach to be closed to the public during the storm. | East Antrim MLA Oliver McMullan has urged people to stay away from the Coast Road in Cushendall due to safety fears and he has called for the beach to be closed to the public during the storm. |
| 'Tidal surge' | 'Tidal surge' |
| He said the sea wall in Cushendall had been breached in two places and he had seen waves as high as 40ft. | He said the sea wall in Cushendall had been breached in two places and he had seen waves as high as 40ft. |
| "At the present time the winds and the water that are going on to the Coast Road are making things very dangerous, and it will only get worse," he said. | "At the present time the winds and the water that are going on to the Coast Road are making things very dangerous, and it will only get worse," he said. |
| In nearby Carnlough, Main Street is closed due to flooding and diversions are in place. | In nearby Carnlough, Main Street is closed due to flooding and diversions are in place. |
| In County Down, BBC reporter Gordon Adair said the storm had drawn crowds in the seaside resort of Newcastle. | In County Down, BBC reporter Gordon Adair said the storm had drawn crowds in the seaside resort of Newcastle. |
| "A large number of people have gathered just off the promenade. The promenade has actually been closed by the council for fairly obvious safety reasons - the waves are crashing over it bringing debris with them," he said. | "A large number of people have gathered just off the promenade. The promenade has actually been closed by the council for fairly obvious safety reasons - the waves are crashing over it bringing debris with them," he said. |
| Earlier on Friday, the Met Office had issued a yellow warning for rain, winds and high tides. | Earlier on Friday, the Met Office had issued a yellow warning for rain, winds and high tides. |
| Police co-ordinated a multi-agency operation in anticipation of a tidal surge. | Police co-ordinated a multi-agency operation in anticipation of a tidal surge. |
| It had been feared that the Sydenham area of east Belfast would take the brunt of flooding in the city and residents were warned to pack a bag in case their homes had to be evacuated. | It had been feared that the Sydenham area of east Belfast would take the brunt of flooding in the city and residents were warned to pack a bag in case their homes had to be evacuated. |
| Police placed walls of sandbags in the area on Thursday evening and the flood defences appear to have held. | Police placed walls of sandbags in the area on Thursday evening and the flood defences appear to have held. |
| A councillor for the area, the PUP's Dr John Kyle, said: "The priority last night was to act to try and prevent the river overflowing, so the banks of the Connswater river have been raised and the flood barrier from Victoria Park through the underpass has been raised as well. | A councillor for the area, the PUP's Dr John Kyle, said: "The priority last night was to act to try and prevent the river overflowing, so the banks of the Connswater river have been raised and the flood barrier from Victoria Park through the underpass has been raised as well. |
| "Several thousand sandbags were made available and several hundred residents availed of them last night." | "Several thousand sandbags were made available and several hundred residents availed of them last night." |
| BBC reporter Mervyn Jess said people living in Sydenham were very relieved that the high tide had passed without causing damage. | BBC reporter Mervyn Jess said people living in Sydenham were very relieved that the high tide had passed without causing damage. |
| He said the direction of the wind and the lack of heavy rain had helped to prevent flooding in the area, but office blocks in the docks area of the city were evacuated as a precaution. | He said the direction of the wind and the lack of heavy rain had helped to prevent flooding in the area, but office blocks in the docks area of the city were evacuated as a precaution. |
| Some roads around the docks area in north Belfast had been closed but have been reopened. | Some roads around the docks area in north Belfast had been closed but have been reopened. |
| The Northern Ireland Executive met to discuss contingency plans. First Minister Peter Robinson was also involved in planning with police and other agencies late into Thursday night. | The Northern Ireland Executive met to discuss contingency plans. First Minister Peter Robinson was also involved in planning with police and other agencies late into Thursday night. |
| The Police Service of Northern Ireland has been co-ordinating a team that includes the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister, Belfast City Council, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, the Rivers Agency, Belfast HealthTrust, Road Service, Northern Ireland Water, Northern Ireland Electricity, BT and Translink. | The Police Service of Northern Ireland has been co-ordinating a team that includes the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister, Belfast City Council, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, the Rivers Agency, Belfast HealthTrust, Road Service, Northern Ireland Water, Northern Ireland Electricity, BT and Translink. |
| Fallen trees | Fallen trees |
| Officers have urged people to stay away from coastal paths and walkways and to drive with extreme care. | Officers have urged people to stay away from coastal paths and walkways and to drive with extreme care. |
| P&O ferries between Larne and Cairnryan are due to resume with their 16:30 GMT departures after services had earlier been cancelled. Passengers are advised to check updates on their website. | P&O ferries between Larne and Cairnryan are due to resume with their 16:30 GMT departures after services had earlier been cancelled. Passengers are advised to check updates on their website. |
| Stena Line has also cancelled sailings between Belfast and Cairnryan and Belfast and Liverpool, and all Rathlin Island ferry services have been cancelled for the day. | Stena Line has also cancelled sailings between Belfast and Cairnryan and Belfast and Liverpool, and all Rathlin Island ferry services have been cancelled for the day. |
| The Bangor to Belfast railway line was blocked by a fallen tree at Seahill overnight, but the line has since reopened. | The Bangor to Belfast railway line was blocked by a fallen tree at Seahill overnight, but the line has since reopened. |
| In Dunmurry on the outskirts of Belfast, Kingsway (the Belfast to Lisburn Road) was closed for a short time overnight due to a fallen tree. It has also reopened. | In Dunmurry on the outskirts of Belfast, Kingsway (the Belfast to Lisburn Road) was closed for a short time overnight due to a fallen tree. It has also reopened. |
| In Londonderry, the Foyle Bridge has been closed to high-sided vehicles because of strong winds. A 30mph speed limit has been introduced for all other vehicles. | In Londonderry, the Foyle Bridge has been closed to high-sided vehicles because of strong winds. A 30mph speed limit has been introduced for all other vehicles. |
| The underground car park at Belfast's Victoria Square shopping centre was closed as a precaution but has since reopened. | The underground car park at Belfast's Victoria Square shopping centre was closed as a precaution but has since reopened. |
| Anyone who wishes to report flooding can call a flooding incident line on 0300 2000 100 or the police non-emergency line on 0845600 8000. | Anyone who wishes to report flooding can call a flooding incident line on 0300 2000 100 or the police non-emergency line on 0845600 8000. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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