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Floods destroy schools, roads, houses, across Ireland

By
FRIEDA KLOTZ,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 12:52 PM
Updated Thursday, November 26, 2009, 3:48 PM

 

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Driving is difficult in County Clare
Driving is difficult in County Clare

College have shut down, roads are closed, plane-landings are being diverted, and even rats are fleeing their burrows as Ireland struggles to cope with what the Minister for the Environment has called the worst flooding in 800 years.

And the waters are still rising.

In Cork the River Lee burst its banks, and thousands of families have been left without drinking water, according to an Irish Times report. The south and west of the country have been especially hard hit, but all areas are affected.

The Irish government has put together an emergency committee to deal with the flooding. But opposition Ministers have criticized the 12 million euro emergency fund which the government is promising, according to an article in the Irish Independent yesterday, saying that it is not enough.

Charities and aid organizations are helping out, in what has become a major humanitarian effort. The Irish Red Cross is seeking donations to help those who’ve been forced to leave their homes, and is distributing meals and blankets to people in Cork, Galway, Tipperary and Waterford. 

"This is an appalling catastrophe for the people whose homes, livelihoods and lives have been destroyed or damaged by these floods," said Irish Red Cross Vice-Chairman, Tony Lawlor, in a statement.

The damage that has already been done is huge.

Because of continued flooding, officials have closed University College Cork until November 30th. Students have been forced out of sodden accommodation, and the university is looking for temporary housing for both them and their teachers – the flood waters have ruined the offices of at least 500 university staff, destroying costly laboratory equipment and irreplaceable research files.

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5 Comments

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Posted by Helen Ferone on Dec 02, 2009, 09:28 AM EST
My heart goes out to these people, and hope the sun will shine soon for them. I'm traveling to Ireland the middle of Jan. and hope things will be much better, but it won't make me change my mind about going. The Irish are strong, kind people and will survive this I have not doubt.
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Posted by shenanigans on Nov 30, 2009, 05:09 PM EST
Many family and friends....all of Ireland will be in our prayers! We hope things will improve soon. God bless them all!
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Posted by millstreet on Nov 29, 2009, 01:23 AM EST
Is there any information about the young man (19) who was swept into the river in Cork./ I know his body was found near Black Rock Castle....he was from Ballyvourney...
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Posted by shamrocks on Nov 25, 2009, 10:46 PM EST
What a horrible way to be approaching the holidays--all those affected by the floods will be in our prayers. Where has the news from Monaghan been the last two weeks?
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Posted by beverly11 on Nov 25, 2009, 08:11 PM EST
I will keep Ireland in my prayers, and hope things get better.
 


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