Flooding at Whitehouse outside Derry last night. Pic by Daniel O’Connell
POLICE have warned drivers of hazardous driving conditions due to flooding in Derry. last night.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Please slow down and drive with care.”
Several people were forced to leave their homes on Tuesday night after serious flooding in Derry and in other parts of the north west.
The fire service said they responded to about 60 incidents and said a number of people were trapped in their cars because of the flood water.
At one point three Coastguard helicopters were brought in – from Scotland, Wales and Sligo.
The Foyle Arena was opened from 11 pm for those affected.
The Fire Service said it responded to 60 call outs.
Derry City and Strabane District Council activated its emergency plan and has been handing out sandbags to affected residents.
Ryan Gray, from the Coastguard, said they rescued more than 30 people.
He said some homes were heavily flooded and many people were trapped in their cars.
“It was fairly deep, it was up to about a metre and a half,” he said.
“Flood water up to 6cms in depth will take a human being off their feet and if it does so, it’s very unlikely that the person will be able to stand up again.
“This was a metre and a half of flood water – it was lifting vehicles up and taking them down, the current of the water
“There was a little bit of panic, thankfully the rescue teams are very well trained and they managed to calm the scene down and rescue people.
“All the emergency services – the police, fire and ambulance and Coastguard and the voluntary agencies all worked extremely well together last night in extremely challenging conditions. ”
Paul Duddy, a motorist caught up in the flooding, told BBC News NI he had “never seen anything like this in all my life”.
“It was terrifying. Particularly whenever I seen the water coming up over the bonnet of the car. I don’t know how the car didn’t stall completely.”
Heavy rain also caused flooding in Burnfoot in Co Donegal. Pic by Donal Dunn
Brigid Mullan, from Claudy, told BBC News NI she was stranded on the Victoria Road in Derry.
“We met a woman from Plumbridge who was very, very distressed so I offered to try to get her to Plumbridge.
“We didn’t get near Plumbridge, we got halfway there and the roads were flooded. We had to turn.
“And it is now exactly 11.15, and we are sitting slightly above the Everglades Hotel. There is nobody to come up and advise people the length of time it is going to take.”
Houses were also under threat in the Fahan area of Donegal as fire crews try and deal with a major flooding close to homes.
