Hurricane Ophelia update LIVE: 2 dead and 230,000 homes without power as killer storm hits
HURRICANE Ophelia has already claimed two lives as it slams into Ireland with the entire country subject to a red weather alert.
By SIMON OSBORNE AND VICKIIE OLIPHANT
Express.co.uk
Mon, Oct 16, 2017
Two people have been killed as Hurricane Ophelia hit Ireland on Monday afternoon
Thousands of homes have been left without power and residents warned to stay indoors
An eerie red sky descended over parts of the UK
Gale force winds of up to 100mph continue to batter the coastline
Met Eireann has issued a “status red” weather alert for Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork and Kerry
Yellow and amber weather warnings are in place for much of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has three battalions, 1,200 personnel in total, permanently on standby to assist following the strike
More than 230,000 homes are without power and people are being urged to batten down the hatches and stay indoors as ferocious winds of up 80mph continue to lash coastal areas.
Police said a woman in her 50s was killed when her car was struck by a tree brought down by the gales in County Waterford. A female passenger in her 70s was injured in the same incident.
A police spokeswoman said: ”Gardaí are at scene of a fatal road traffic collision that occurred outside Aglish village on the R671 this morning at 11.40am
“A female driver in her 50s was fatally injured when the car she was driver was struck by a falling tree.
“A female passenger in her 70s was injured and has been removed to Waterford Regional Hospital with non life threatening injuries. Emergencies services are still at scene.”
The accident happened at Aglish, in west Waterford shortly after Ophelia reached its height in the south with wind gusts in excess of 80mph.
A man, believed to be in his 30s, was also killed as the storm hit this afternoon after he tried to remove a tree felled by Ophelia in County Tipperary.
Most of the country remains in lockdown with public transport services, schools, creches, colleges, shops, courts and outpatient clinics all suspending services.
More than 140 flights have been cancelled in and out of the country’s airports.
The worst of Ophelia is now battering south and south-western Ireland but residents in Cork are already in the midst of the violent and destructive storm with up to 1,600 people already without power and a number of roads blocked by fallen trees.
Wind speeds at the infamous Fastnet Rock, just four miles of the coast of County Cork, were recorded at a whopping 110mph.
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