Army deployed as more than 100 homes flooded in Co Cork town

Members of the Irish Defence Forces have been deployed to a town in the south of Ireland to deal with extensive flooding due to Storm Babet. The army and civil defence units supported evacuation measures in the town of Midleton, Co Cork, where more than 100 properties were flooded. A number of businesses, including a prominent supermarket, were damaged by severe flooding. Cork County Council said more than a month’s worth of rain had fallen in the space of 24 hours, leading to unprecedented flooding, saturated land and high river levels across the county.

In a statement, it said: “Midleton town is currently impassable with over 100 properties flooded. The council has established a coordination centre in Midleton Fire Station to coordinate arrangements. A rest centre in Midleton Community Centre has been established to facilitate persons who require evacuation.” Tanaiste Micheal Martin and Minister Simon Coveney, both from Co Cork, said the Government will provide support through the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme. Mr Coveney said the flooding had “caused carnage” across the county while Environment Minister Eamon Ryan said his “heart goes out to all the residents and businesses” affected following Storm Babet. Independent councillor for East Cork Liam Quaide said the scenes of flooding on Mill Street and Main Street in Midleton were “apocalyptic”. Mr Quaide told the PA news agency: “My wife and I were bringing our daughter home from CUH today and we got stranded for several hours with many other local residents on the outskirts of town as both roads home were off limits. We tried a couple of perilous detours and had to turn back. “The scenes of devastation in Midleton today were an ominous sign of what is ahead of us as a nation if we don’t double down on climate mitigation and adaptation. “I’d like to commend the heroic work of Cork County Council staff, the Fire Service and Civil Defence Forces who worked around the clock evacuating and providing assistance to many people in distress.” Local Liam MacCarthaigh said he had been temporarily “stranded” during the after-school run in the town due to the floods. The council’s severe weather assessment team continues to monitor the impact on communities as flooding was also reported in Whitegate, Rathcormac, Glandore, Ringaskiddy, Carrigaline, Raffeen, Halfway and Casteltownbere. The N71 is closed at Rosscarbery and at Innishannon with reports of flooding at the Halfway roundabout, while the R610 in Carrigaline was described as “virtually impassable”. A boil water notice was issued to protect the health of those supplied by Whitegate Public Water Supply, impacting consumers in Aghada, Churchtown, Ballycotton, Saleen, Shanagarry, Ballinacura and areas of Cloyne. Five counties on the south and south-east coasts of Ireland were subject to orange rain warnings on Wednesday. The orange warning issued by forecaster Met Eireann for counties Cork and Kerry ended at 1pm, for Waterford at 4pm, while it remained in place for Wexford and Wicklow until 8pm as the storm tracked northward. Euan Whelton, 21, from the village of Glandore, in Co Cork, said he has not seen flooding “this bad” for 10 years. Mr Whelton, an agriculture worker, said the Skibbereen Fire Brigade pumped water from the area for “five or six hours” on Tuesday but said it remained underwater on Wednesday afternoon. He said that the harbour village was “closed down” in 2013 due to heavy flooding and told the PA news agency: “I would say in 10 years it hasn’t been this bad.” He added: “There were a few houses down there that were flooded, there was probably a foot or two of water inside the houses. “There was a riverbank burst and it flooded on the houses down there. There was a high tide as well so it was hard to get the water out. “The fire brigade was there for probably five or six hours pumping it out but it’s still all underwater at the moment (Wednesday afternoon).” Mr Whelton added that in one of his cousin’s houses, the water was “coming in the back door and going straight out the front door”. Co Cork mayor Frank O’Flynn said one month’s worth of rain had fallen in 24 hours. “This is on top of already saturated lands and high river levels,” he said. “It is evidence, if any were needed, of our changing climate and the issues that it presents. “I am especially conscious of the advanced preparations that were undertaken by Cork County Council in mitigating the effects of this event and how, despite every effort, homes, businesses and road users have been impacted. “Areas where flood defence schemes have been completed fared far better than others in the face of this deluge. “I know from speaking with council staff that some of the issues they are dealing with are unprecedented, with roads which have never flooded now under water. “I am calling on the people of Cork to please avoid unnecessary travel, take extreme care if you must set off on a journey and please think of vulnerable road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists. “As a council, we will continue to work across the county, both in a preventative capacity while also dealing with issues as they arise. “The results of this weather event will be long felt as we move toward a clean-up phase but can I please reiterate the importance of staying safe and together we will come through this weather event.” An additional yellow rain warning was announced for Co Kerry, lasting 24 hours from 6pm on Thursday. Strong and gusty east to south-east winds are also forecast across the island. The Met Office in the UK issued a yellow rain warning covering Northern Ireland from 2pm on Wednesday to 10am on Thursday. The forecaster said flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures with a “small chance” of homes and businesses being flooded.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.