Storm Babet: Army deployed as Midleton 'impassable' with 100 properties flooded
Picture: Cork County Flooding In Storm Midleton Council During Babet
The Defence Forces are being deployed to parts of Cork that have been inundated by severe flood waters caused by Storm Babet.
Cork and Kerry have seen severe flooding after a status orange weather warning was issued for the counties overnight.
Cork East TD James O’Connor confirmed that the army was to be deployed as Cork County Council said a month’s worth of rain has fallen in the last 24 hours.
He said: “Following severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall, I understand that the Defence Forces will be deployed to provide emergency assistance to Cork County Council.”
Parts of East Cork including Midleton and Glanmire have seen severe flooding due to Storm Babet.
The town centre of Midleton has become partly submerged under heavy floods. Gardaí said the town was "impassable to traffic due to the ongoing adverse weather conditions".
Cork County Council have urged the public to completely avoid the town, saying 100 properties have been flooded.
A rest centre in Midleton Community Centre has been established to facilitate people who require evacuation with the army and Civil Defence on site supporting evacuation measures.
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Please avoid travel to Midleton if possible ⚠️⚠️⚠️ pic.twitter.com/IVZfnMhjc6
— Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) October 18, 2023
Cork County Council said it is aware of the flooding of properties in Whitegate, Rathcormac, Glandore, Ringaskiddy, Carrigaline, Raffeen, Halfway and Casteltownbere.
"The road network across the county has been impacted with rolling road closures. The N71 is closed at Rosscarbery with diversions through the town. The N71 is also closed at Innishannon with reports of spot flooding at the Halfway roundabout. Traffic will be diverted via Crossbarry. The R610 in Carrigaline is virtually impassable," the council said in a statement.
Cork County Council’s Severe Weather Assessment Team is to meet this evening "as the situation and its impact on communities continues to evolve".
Midleton was also affected by power outages shortly after 2pm, with the ESB saying that 961 people homes and businesses were affected. Due to the severe flooding, power is not expected to be restored until 6pm at the earliest.
In Glanmire, the city council said the village is "impassable" and that crews were on site.
One local told the that “a number of housing estates have been badly affected.”
There has been serious flooding in Coppervalley View, Meadowbrook, and Rivergrove while a number of roads have also been cut off in the area.
“Fire brigades, council crews, and Sorensen Civil Engineering Ltd, who are actually the contractors working on the flood relief works, are also helping to use pumping equipment,” he said.
In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Lord Mayor Councillor Frank O'Flynn said the orange rainfall warning has "resulted in a month's worth of rain falling in just 24 hours".
In 2012, more than 70 households and businesses in the area were affected by flooding, and as a result many of them do not have flood cover insurance anymore, the local added.
Irish Rail confirmed that due to flooding on the line services between Cork/Cobh and Cork/Midleton are suspended until further notice
Many roads in and around the town have been deemed impassable.
Over a month's worth of rainfall has fallen in the past 24 hours at some weather stations around Cork and Kerry.
Check out the Irish Examiner's WEATHER CENTRE for regularly updated short and long range forecasts wherever you are.