Storm Debi: Disruption continues as clean-up begins

Some roads remain closed and there is disruption to the public transport network across Northern Ireland following Storm Debi.

The storm hit in the early hours of Monday and brought strong winds and heavy rain.

Weather warnings were in place but have since been lifted by the Met Office.

Warnings in the Republic of Ireland - including a rare red warning, the highest level - have also ended.

In Northern Ireland, about 2,000 customers were without power, mainly in Craigavon, Newry and Downpatrick, according to electricity grid operator NIE Networks.

Some areas were expected to experience up to 40mm (1.7in) of rainfall within a six-hour period.

As of 09:00 GMT there had been 22mm (0.87in) at Glennane in County Armagh - the most in any single area.

The fastest wind gust recorded in Northern Ireland by 09:00 was 73mph (113km/h) at Killowen in County Down.

Some roads have been closed in Ballymena due to fallen trees and Stormont's Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said there were reports of a landslip on the A2 Coast Road in Glenarm, County Antrim.

The A22 Killyleagh Road in Downpatrick was also closed at Quoile Bridge due to damage caused by the storm.

The DfI said early examinations suggested a masonry parapet has been damaged by a vehicle and the road will remain closed until a full assessment is complete.

Public transport provider Translink said there were delays on the bus and train network and the bus station in Lisburn had been closed.

Some roads were flooded and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) shared a picture of a crash on the M1 near junction 14, adding that nobody had been injured.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council said many of its services were disrupted due to the amber warning in the area.

Household bin collections are delayed and the district's five parks are closed until further notice.

County Galway in the Republic of Ireland was one of the areas worst hit by Storm Debi, with severe flooding in some parts.

Ronan Henningan, from Clarinbridge in the county, said that "everything" in the supermarket he owns would have to be replaced.

He estimated that the cost of repairing the damage could be up to €1m (£871,9400).

At 04:36 local time, a member of his staff rang him to say that water was getting into the shop.

The employee called back six minutes later to say that the water was up to his chest.

"It moved everything - it moved ovens that are floor-to-ceiling ovens that had to be brought in on a big huge truck," Mr Henningan told the BBC's Evening Extra programme.

"It was so just so powerful it moved everything, it knocked down walls."

He said that his community was devastated and he called on the Irish government to offer financial help to those affected by the floods.

Irish weather service Met Éireann said a gust of 115km/h (71mph) was recorded at a weather station in Athenry, County Galway, on Monday morning.

• What can we do to prevent more devastating floods?

Galway City Tribune editor Enda Cunningham said that while Galway city was calm by late-morning the clean-up would be extensive.

"There are 30 cars at Seapoint car park and Salthill car park and they're destroyed," he said.

"I have never heard the wind that woke me at 04:20 this morning - and I've lost count of how many storms I have covered."

About 34,000 homes and businesses in the Republic of Ireland are still without power after the strong winds.

Network operator ESB said work to restore power would continue but some properties would remain without supply overnight.

"The main areas in which customers will remain without supply overnight include Athlone, Cavan, Drogheda, Dundalk, Longford, Mullingar and Tuam," said ESB.

Irish postal service An Post said a postwoman in County Limerick was taken to hospital after being hit by flying debris due to the storm.

"Thankfully she was not seriously injured," said An Post.

Some flights at in and out of Dublin Airport were cancelled or delayed and speed restrictions were placed on some Irish rail trains, although those have since been lifted.