Storm Chandra brings severe flooding and power outages across Ireland

Storm Chandra brought severe flooding and widespread disruption to parts of Ireland and Northern Ireland on Tuesday, as strong winds and heavy rain swept across the island.

Local media reported that more than 15,000 homes and businesses lost power on both sides of the border, with weather warnings in force in both jurisdictions. Several roads and schools were closed, and public transport services were disrupted.

In Bunclody, County Wexford, residents described rising floodwaters entering homes through drains and sewer systems, despite efforts to sandbag properties.

“It could be five or six inches of water in the house now and there’s nothing we can do,” said Michael Raleigh, whose home was flooded. “We’re here 34 years and it’s never done that.”

Another resident, Diane Dorman, said locals were left to fend for themselves during the early hours of the flooding.

“We’re devastated that nobody came,” she said. “Our friends and family helped us and that was about it.”

Dorman said she spent hours directing traffic away from flooded streets to prevent waves from worsening the damage, adding that assistance and sandbags only arrived later.

“That’s my house, number 11 — it’s totally flooded,” she said. “We had no help for the first two hours from anyone.”

Emergency services and local authorities later responded, with the fire brigade and Wexford County Council assisting affected residents.

Widespread disruption

In Northern Ireland, flooding was reported across parts of County Antrim, where police were seen towing vehicles from submerged roads and clearing fallen trees.

Public transport was heavily affected. Belfast’s Lanyon Place railway station was closed due to flooding, while Irish Rail suspended services between Eniscorthy and Wexford, according to media reports.

Authorities urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel as cleanup operations continued and warned that further disruption was possible as weather conditions remained unstable.

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