High cost at high tide as storm hits

STORM winds and heavy rain caused tens of millions of euro worth of damage as businesses and households were submerged in flood waters last night.

Cork city and county were the worst affected by the storms, which mainly hit the south and east of the country. There was also serious flooding in Waterford city and county and parts of Wexford.

The Office of Public Works last night ruled out making money available in compensation. The OPW said any money made available would be for "emergency purposes" only.

The Chambers of Commerce of Ireland (CCI) warned the storms will cost businesses nationwide tens of millions of euro and called on the Government to provide disaster relief if people have problems with insurance.

The Insurance Federation of Ireland said most businesses and households would have cover for flooding but those in areas where repeated flooding occurs may not be insured.

Cars were half-submerged in Cork city streets by 6pm yesterday. Gardaí were turning back motorists attempting to enter Cork city via the South Ring Road at 6.30pm, saying the city was impassable.

The satellite town of Carrigaline was cordoned off by gardaí at high tide early yesterday evening as the river broke its banks.

Youghal and parts of North and West Cork were also affected. Severe flooding was expected in Cork city again early this morning, and in Mallow, Fermoy and Passage West.

In Cork city centre, some workers in Oliver Plunkett Street were trapped in the upper floors of buildings after the lower floors flooded. Water also came in to The Irish Examiner basement offices as the river Lee broke its banks on Lavitt's Quay.

People were trapped in their cars by rising waters on the Lower Glanmire Road, while thousands of homes in the city were left without ESB for several hours. Cork Chamber of Commerce estimated that damages would cost "several million euros".

There were also question marks over the recent renovations of Patrick Street. The city is not prone to flooding, but was under water last night in the first flooding since its renovation.

The last time Patrick Street flooded is believed to be in the 1960s. There are €18m worth of roadworks underway in the city centre in preparation for the City of Culture next January. City engineers will analyse the damage to these works this morning.

Five flights due to land at Cork airport were diverted to Shannon and Kerry. A number of ferry crossings were also cancelled and hundreds of passengers on board an Irish Ferries vessel were temporarily stranded at sea off the Welsh coast last night.