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18th October 2023
05:58pm BST
Motorists are asked to avoid unnecessary travel, and if you must travel, please proceed with caution and follow any diversions that may be in place on your normal route. Reports have come in of motorists ignoring road closure signs in the city.
— Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) October 18, 2023
We are aware that the town of Midleton Co. Cork is currently impassable to traffic due to the ongoing adverse weather conditions caused by #StormBabet.
Please avoid the town if possible and use an alternative route. #KeepingPeopleSafe pic.twitter.com/V90hzIoBQ4 — An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) October 18, 2023
"The Met Eireann Orange Rainfall warning, which has just expired, has resulted in a months’ worth of rain falling in just 24 hours. This is on top of already saturated lands and high river levels. "It is evidence, if any were needed, of our changing climate and the issues that it presents. I am especially conscious of the advanced preparations that were undertaken by Cork County Council in mitigating the effects of this event and how, despite every effort, homes, businesses and road users have been impacted. "Areas where flood defence schemes have been completed fared far better than others in the face of this deluge. "I know from speaking with Council staff that some of the issues they are dealing with are unprecedented, with roads which have never flooded now under water."The Mayor has called on those in Cork to "please avoid unnecessary travel" and also to take extreme care if they must set off on a journey and to consider "vulnerable road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists". "As a Council, we will continue to work across the county, both in a preventative capacity while also dealing with issues as they arise," he added.
"The results of this weather event will be long felt as we move toward a clean up phase but can I please reiterate the importance of staying safe and together we will come through this weather event."Images shared online from Cork show cars nearly completely submerged by water. As reported by The Irish Examiner, Cork East TD James O’Connor stated that members of the Irish Defence Forces were to be deployed to the county to provide aid amid the flooding from Storm Babet. “Following severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall, I understand that the Defence Forces will be deployed to provide emergency assistance to Cork County Council," he said. In a statement to JOE on the matter, a spokesperson for the Irish Defence Forces confirmed:
"The DF have deployed personnel to Midleton in response to a request from the Local Authority. The extent of the DF response will be based on continued requests from relevant Local Authorities. "DF Transport and Engineer assets can assist with transporting people from affected areas."Main image via Twitter/CorkSafetyAlerts and Twitter/CorkCityCouncil
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