LONDON (AP) – Ireland sought assistance from England and France as repair crews worked tirelessly to restore power following the most disruptive storm in recent years. In the midst of ongoing cleanup efforts, the U.K., Ireland, and France faced additional wet and windy weather conditions on Sunday.
Storm Éowyn (pronounced AY-oh-win) left more than 1 million residents in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland without electricity after it swept through on Friday. The storm caused unprecedented destruction primarily in Ireland, where strong winds snapped telephone poles, demolished a Dublin ice rink, and even toppled a giant wind turbine. A recorded wind gust of 114 mph (183 kph) on the west coast set a new record, surpassing one established in 1945.
On Sunday, the state electricity company, ESB Networks, reported that over 300,000 properties in Ireland remained without power, a significant reduction from the 768,000 affected on Friday. The Irish military was deployed to assist in restoration efforts; however, officials warned that it could take up to two weeks to restore electricity to all residents.
Dara Calleary, Ireland’s Minister for Social Protection, stated that authorities were “throwing everything at it.” He mentioned, “We’re bringing additional people from England today and we’re looking for people from France, additional technicians.” Calleary emphasized a focus on restoring critical infrastructure, including power, water, and connectivity, as swiftly as possible.
Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom and shares a border with the Republic of Ireland, reported around 75,000 people still without electricity on Sunday. The storm's impact was devastating, resulting in the deaths of at least two individuals. In County Donegal, local police reported that a tree fell on the car of 20-year-old Kacper Dudek, leading to his tragic demise. Similarly, police in Scotland reported that a 19-year-old man died in a hospital after a tree fell on his vehicle in Mauchline.
As the cleanup progressed, another wave of rainy and windy weather battered the U.K. and Ireland on Sunday. A gust of 82 mph (132 kph) was recorded at Predannack in southwest England, attributed to a new weather system dubbed Storm Herminia by Spanish weather authorities, which anticipated severe impacts in the region.
France’s weather service issued warnings in various regions, particularly in Normandy and Brittany in the northwest. Canals and rivers overflowed their banks, leading to road closures and mandatory evacuations in some localities. The mayor of Rennes in Brittany reported that the city was facing its worst flooding in four decades, with local television capturing scenes of families evacuating ground-floor rooms inundated with water up to a meter (three feet) high.
The regional maritime authority reported that a 73-year-old British sailor was missing off the Atlantic coast near Bordeaux after he went boating alone on Saturday. His boat was found severely damaged and abandoned, raising concerns for his safety.
In summary, the aftermath of Storm Éowyn continues to affect countless lives across Ireland, Northern Ireland, and parts of the U.K. and France, with communities rallying together to restore essential services and support those impacted by this significant natural disaster.
