Cork floods - Authorities’ system failed

The downpour early yesterday morning caught many people by surprise, especially in Cork City and county.

Proper warnings should have been issued to homes and businesses. Met Éireann had warned the councils that up to 70mm of rain could be expected.

Very little seemed to have been learned from the devastating floods of 2009. In their aftermath, the local authority promised to improve the flood warning system, but it again failed miserably yesterday.