Storm Francis: 37 people rescued from flooding

Thirty seven people have been rescued across NI from flooding caused by Storm Francis, the fire service has said.

In Newcastle, County Down, elderly residents were evacuated from the Shimna Road and the Bryansford Road after the Shimna river burst its banks.

And in Draperstown, County Londonderry, nine people were rescued from inside a house, along with four outside who were trying to help.

A yellow weather warning remains in place until 06:00 BST on Wednesday.

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said that between midnight and 20:00 on Tuesday, it responded to 28 flooding incidents across Northern Ireland, including in the Newcastle, Maghera, Draperstown and Cookstown areas.

A spokesperson said: "This was a very challenging period for our regional control centre personnel.

"They deployed flood rescue teams and our specialist rescue team to work alongside local operational crews.

"The weather forecast has now improved and NIFRS flood response has now been scaled back."

Downpours and flooding have caused disruption across Northern Ireland.

Roads and transport lines closed as a result.

Newry Mourne and Down District Council launched an emergency plan to deal with the flooding.

By Sara Girvin, BBC News NI

A normal day in late August would see Newcastle bustling with visitors, squeezing the last days from the summer season.

But Storm Francis had other ideas.

The Shimna and Bryansford roads stand in the shadows of the misty Mournes.

It's a picturesque place to live, but today some residents had to be evacuated as floodwaters rose and entered their homes.

Nearby St Mary's Primary School had to close this morning, when rising waters blocked the main entrances.

The children had only just returned after months off due to the pandemic.

Despite all this, along the seafront there are still some tourists and day trippers clad in shorts and T-shirts, dodging the downpours, determined to explore the town.

Just a few streets away, all attentions turn to high tide which is due between 16:00 and 17:00.

People are piling sandbags and clearing rooms, hoping the worst has already passed.

The Department for Infrastructure said a multi-agency response was taking place in the town and staff had been on the ground assisting residents and distributing sandbags.

It said that water levels were being closely monitored and conference calls between agencies had been taking place since Monday.

Anybody wishing to report flooding can contact the flooding incident line on 0300 2000 100.

Visiting Newcastle, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said her department had been working tirelessly to plan and protect communities across Northern Ireland.

"The work of staff in Rivers and Roads has been exceptional, doing all they can, night and day and dealing with everything the storm has thrown at them to keep us safe," she said.

"But it is clear their work would not be successful without the co-operation of the local community and our partners.

"I am giving my commitment and assurance that the flood alleviation scheme will be delivered for this area as quickly as possible.

"My officials advise that we hope to have the scheme on the ground by summer 2021, but I am asking for that to be escalated to explore any options to get work brought forward."

SDLP MLA Colin McGrath said up to 300 homes in the town had been affected.

He said it was "like a disaster zone".

"A number of streets are submerged under about 3ft (0.91m) or 4ft (1.2m) of water, there are cars that have had to be abandoned and there are people that have had to be rescued from their home," he said.

Mr McGrath said shelter was available at the Newcastle Centre for those who had to abandon their homes.

Local Sinn Féin councillor Willie Clarke said they were preparing for high tide in the area, which was due at 16:00 BST.

"A lot of people have already been taken to other people's houses, elderly people, in their 80s or 90s," he said.

He said the priority was trying to get sandbags to people whose homes had not yet been flooded.

Elsewhere, Angela Lagan, said the Moyola River had breached its banks near Lisnamuck Bridge, a townland near Maghera.

"The fields near me are flooded, the fields are like lakes," she said.

"A neighbour said he had been out since noon moving animals from his fields. Fields were reseeded this week and there is a massive loss of tillage.

"One side of the Ballyhagan Road is cut off due to the level of water - the water is level with the road."

By BBC News NI weather forecaster Cecilia Daly

Looking at rainfall totals since midnight, it is fair to say that 40mm to 50mm have fallen in and around the Sperrins and the Antrim hills.

Orlock Head on the Ards Peninsula recorded a wind gust of 60mph.

It is still raining, and is expected through the remainder of the day on Tuesday and into the night.

The rain however will turn more showery and less persistent.

Winds will ease temporarily in some areas this afternoon as the centre of Storm Francis moves eastwards across the middle of the island of Ireland, but will strengthen towards the north coast and change direction.

Northerly winds will develop as the low pressure system passes by and gusts of 50mph are possible on exposed parts of the north coast later on Tuesday and through the evening.

Winds will generally decrease overnight and into Wednesday morning.

The current Met Office yellow rainfall warning in Northern Ireland is valid until 06:00 BST on Wednesday and a status Orange rainfall warning for Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal issued by Met Éireann is valid until 18:00 local time.

In Rostrevor, the Fairy Glen river has burst its banks and has caused some flooding.

Independent councillor Mark Gibbons said there were safety concerns about people coming to have a look, and he had asked the council for the entrance to the area to be blocked off.

"You will have people who will want to get a nosy at it, people might want to get a picture for social media, so they could put themselves in danger, and potentially fall into it," he said.

"A lot of locals are saying it is the highest they have ever seen it."

Storm Francis was named by the UK Met Office on Monday - it is the seventh named storm of the season and the second storm in a week to affect the UK and Ireland.

It has been battering areas across the UK.