Critical water level will not hit Limerick for another five days

THE worsening flood situation in the environs of Limerick city upstream to Parteen Weir will not hit critical levels for another five days, it has emerged.

As Limerick County Council upgraded flood warnings to “severe” to residents living by a 24km stretch of Shannon waterway between the city and Parteen Weir and Ardnacrusha power station, Environment Minister John Gormley yesterday said the critical period for floods in this section won’t emerge until next week.

After inspecting the floods along the lower River Shannon from an Aer Corps helicopter, Mr Gormley said: “The big issue now is next week when the tides are going to rise by about one metre. And that is what is of most concern to the agencies down here in Limerick and in Clare. And we are trying to monitor that situation and we are trying to predict and what the consequences of that will be.

“And you can be assured of one thing, the agencies in the area are on top of the situation and are trying to monitor as best as possible and predict the consequences. That is what is of most concern.”

Limerick city manager, Tom Mackey said the biggest threat to Limerick and its environs is expected next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

By then, the full force of the massive flooding right through the Shannon river network is expected to hit Lough Derg and the southern section of river.

Emergency services fear the problem will be compounded by more rain and a south-westerly wind forecast for next week.

There was increasing concern in the village of Castleconnell last night where rising waters are advancing on the village.

On Monday, residents put a marker at the water’s edge that was then 80 metres from housing developments. Yesterday, the water had advanced 40 metres.

The ESB yesterday increased the amounts of water being released from Parteen Weir as water levels on Lough Derg reached new record levels.

In south-east Clare and Ennis, more than 60,00 sandbags have deployed across flood risk areas as the county braces itself for further flooding.

Last night, rising flood levels in the Burren resulted in the evacuation of three homes in the villages of Carron and Tubber.