Resident relives 'Wizard of Oz' moment as gales rip roof off

A beauty salon worker tonight described a 'Wizard of Oz' moment when storm force winds ripped the roof off an apartment block and blew it past her window.

Gales gusting to 100km/h battered the country forcing air traffic controllers to divert flights and tearing through the new Carrickmines Manor complex in south Dublin.

Resident Hazel Melbourne said she felt like she was in a scene from the children’s classic when the roof flew past her second floor apartment at 8.30am.

“I was sitting on my couch putting on my make-up and getting ready for work when the roof literally flew by me,” said Ms Melbourne.

“There was a massive bang and it crashed on a portable building out the back.

“It was like something from the Wizard of Oz – my favourite film.

“We were very lucky it went in that direction, otherwise it would have come through the glass.”

The 32-year-old, a manager in Wow beauty salon in Shankill, said she called the gardaí and within 20 minutes firefighters had evacuated residents from homes.

No-one was injured.

Dublin Airport was also affected by the winds, with gusts of up to 50 knots on the main runway.

Ten planes were diverted from the capital, with air traffic controllers sending flights on to Shannon and Manchester.

An airport spokeswoman said the delays were having a knock-on effect but urged all passengers to arrive as normal.

Forecasters at Met Eireann warned that south-west winds gusted at 100-120kph in exposed places.

Residents were evacuated from the Carrickmines complex and were being rehoused.

It is understood a flat roof was also ripped off another apartment block in nearby Sandyford.

The roof was ripped off one of the larger five-storey blocks in the complex.

Property management company Wyse were on site with developers Pierse Homes helping to rehouse residents.

It is understood the affected block was not full and had only been completed in the last 12 months.

Construction worker Mark Warren, who lives in the area, said it appeared the roof, which was said to have ripped off the building like the lid of a can, was made from plywood and MDF.

The roofer, whose job in Bray, Co Wicklow, was cancelled because of high winds, said the materials are cheaper and are also meant to be longer lasting and durable.

“They are all the rage at the moment, but this seems to be a bit of a regular occurrence now,” said Mr Warren.

“It was a nightmare working today, that’s why we got sent home.

“We couldn’t get on the roof, it’s too windy.”

Local Fine Gael TD Olivia Mitchell claimed: “This is the second such occurrence in Dublin South whereby roofing has been blown off a high rise apartment block.

“It raises real concerns over the safety of apartment blocks in elevated areas.”

Meanwhile, in Dublin city, fire crews were called out to a solicitors office on Parnell Square West when plaster and render fell to the ground.

Council officials later declared it was safe.