Newry flooding causes havoc in city centre
The public are advised to avoid Newry City Centre as it is experiencing unprecedented levels of flooding due to the canal bursting its banks overnight.
A well co-ordinated multi agency response is now underway in Newry in an effort to mitigate the effects of flooding in the County Down city.
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and Newry Mourne and Down Council staff have been working through last night and early this morning to get sandbags in place to protect a number of areas including Sugar Island and around Newry Town Hall.
Newry is one of many areas where water levels are being monitored by DfI staff during this period of severe weather.
Heavy rain in recent days falling on already saturated land, has caused many issues for watercourses and roads and operational teams have worked hard to reduce the impacts of flooding where possible.
District Commander Superintendent Norman Haslett said: “We are continuing to warn the public to avoid Newry City Centre and the surrounding area because of excessive flooding due to the canal bursting its banks overnight and heavy rainfall.
“I would also urge people to keep away from the canal and the river at this time due to the hazardous conditions caused by high water levels and the fast flowing current.”
A DfI spokesperson said: “Over 318 calls have been received by the Flooding Incident Line so far and that number is rising.
“As a result DfI Roads and Rivers staff have been deployed to various locations to provide assistance and thousands of sandbags have been deployed across Northern Ireland.
“DfI have also engaged with the PSNI and multi agency partners and held a series of internal resource planning activities in recent days to plan and to deploy resources effectively for the various weather warnings that had been issued.
In addition the DfI has advised Regional Community Groups across Northern Ireland in advance about potential impacts.
“Where necessary, temporary road or lane closures have been put in place on roads blocked by flooding and resources assigned to clear blocked pipes and gullies across affected areas.
“As the weather warnings remain in place until Thursday the public are reminded of the flooding incident line on 0300 2000 100.”
Information about preparing for possible flooding, and what to do after a flood, is available at:
nidirect – Flooding in your area.
Advice for road users in all adverse weather conditions can be found at:
nidirect – Driving in adverse weather
Information about road closures is available at:
Multi-agency response to flooding continues in Newry
The multi agency response is continuing in Newry today in an effort to mitigate the effects of flooding in the city.
A large number of calls has been received to the Flooding Incident Line from across Northern Ireland and assistance is being provided.
Many roads are closed particularly in the Newry and South Down and Armagh areas and the public are being asked to avoid Newry City Centre.
People are also asked to stay away from all watercourses, canals and bridges especially in the Newry area, while assessment of the damage caused by the rain continues.
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) continues to engage with the PSNI and other multi agency partners to respond to the emerging situation and to deploy resources effectively following the various weather warnings over the last few days.
