A man in his 40s has tragically passed away in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, as Storm Amy sweeps across the UK and Ireland. The incident occurred during the storm, prompting emergency services to respond swiftly around 4:15pm.
Following the unfortunate event, the man’s body was transported to the morgue at Letterkenny University Hospital for a post mortem examination to be conducted in the near future. Gardai are actively investigating the incident, with the results of the post mortem examination guiding the next steps. A file is being prepared for the coroner.
Storm Amy has brought powerful winds and heavy rain to the British Isles as it made its way towards the UK and Ireland. As a result, approximately 50,000 properties in Northern Ireland are currently experiencing power outages due to the storm’s impact.
NIE Networks has reported a significant level of damage to the electricity networks in the region. Alex Houston, the Operations Manager at NIE Networks, mentioned that response efforts are underway, with additional staff and resources being deployed to manage the situation efficiently.
In the Republic of Ireland, around 184,000 homes, farms, and businesses were left without power during the storm. The ESB stated that the affected areas are mainly in counties Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Cavan, and Donegal, warning that more power outages may occur.
The Met Office in the UK has issued warnings of wind speeds potentially reaching up to 80mph (130kph) in exposed coastal areas, which could lead to fallen trees and further power outages. In Northern Ireland, a yellow wind warning is in place for the entire region until midnight on Saturday, along with a yellow rain warning until midday on Saturday.
Moreover, an amber wind warning has been issued for specific regions in Northern Ireland, prompting the closure of schools from noon for the safety of students and staff. Storm Amy is expected to bring damaging winds, with gusts ranging from 60-70mph (97-113kph) inland and up to 80mph along coastal areas, potentially affecting services like mobile phone coverage.
