Residents swamped as floods return

THEY were told after the 1996 disaster that it would never happen again.

But yesterday, devastated residents of two quiet housing estates on Cork’s northside were counting the cost again after their homes were swamped by a massive deluge for the second time in 15 years.

The alarm was raised at 2.30am after a water main at the junction of the Old Youghal Road and Goldsmith’s Avenue ruptured.

The road surface collapsed sending tens of thousands of gallons of water cascading down a hill into 15 homes.

Residents of Shandon Court and Shandon View Cottages were woken from their beds as flood waters swept through their homes.

Four units of the Cork City Fire Brigade responded. Third officer Gerry Myers said it was an absolutely incredible sight when they arrived.

“There was a huge volume of water cascading down Fever Hospital steps.”

Firefighters wearing dry suits waded in to the streets, in up to three feet of water, to reach the flooded homes.

They used axes to smash windows and doors to allow the water escape.

Nine people were evacuated from seven houses at Shandon Court. Neighbours took them in.

A total of 20 people were evacuated from Shandon View Cottages lower down. Two members of one family in this area, including one woman who had been discharged from hospital last Friday, were confined to an upstairs bedroom until the water levels receded.

Two ambulances were placed on standby — one at Heineken Ireland and another at Sarsfield Terrace higher up. One paramedic suffered a sprained ankle when he was swept off his feet by the flood waters.

The brewery car park and nearby Leitrim Street were also flooded.

Cork City Council crews had the water turned off by 5.30am. Repair crews worked through the day to repair the main and restore water supply.

Workers also collected damaged furniture and the rubble from shattered walls.

Labour Junior Minister Kathleen Lynch visited the stricken residents yesterday and said there was an awful sense of “deja vu”.

“It’s almost exactly the same thing as what happened in 1996. The same people that were affected then, are here now.

“We are very, very lucky someone wasn’t killed.

“I know we have to get water up to the city’s hills, but there must be some way of ensuring that this doesn’t happen again.

“There are other places in the world where you have to get water at pressure up hills. We need to take a serious look at what happens in these areas.

“We have to be able to reassure people that this will never happen again.”

Lord Mayor Cllr Michael O’Connell also visited the residents and said the city will do everything it can to help. “Today is about making sure that people are looked after and to give them as much comfort as we can.”

The cause of the incident will be investigated over the coming days, he assured.

“If new piping needs to go in, that will be done. Everything possible is being done today, and everything possible will be done to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” said Mr O’Connell.

But he accepted that the city could be liable for the repair costs.