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Antrim Coast Road may remain shut over weekend after landslide

The landslide happened on Friday morning between Glenarm and Ballygally.

Part of the A2 Antrim coast road that became impassable due to a landslide may have to remain shut over the weekend due to further landslide fears.

It happened on Friday morning between Glenarm and Ballygally.

The Department for Infrastructure said its staff "have been on site throughout the day" trying to clear the debris.

"We are continuing to work to get the water egress under control," a statement from the department said.

It added that "as further slippages are a possibility, it is likely that the road will remain closed over the weekend".

The department said it would "endeavour to open the road as soon as it is safe to do so."

Pacemaker Landside county antrim a2Pacemaker
The A2 coast road was open for a time but is now impassable, police said

The road had partially reopened earlier on Friday, however, some overhanging debris still has to be cleared.

Diversions are in place and police have asked people to seek alternative routes and "exercise caution due to difficult road conditions".

Buses and school buses that use the road were diverted via Dickeystown Road from Drumnagreagh, Translink said.

St Killian's College in Carnlough had warned parents and pupils that the road would take some time to clear.

Ulster Unionist Party councillor Maureen Morrow said constituents first got in touch with her about the issue at about 06:50 BST on Friday.

"We do have occasional landslides here and rockfall but none as serious as this in a long time," she said.

"In this case, there are two slips here and it's just washing the soil and debris down with it."

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Northern Ireland saw heavy rainfall on Thursday.

A yellow weather warning for rain has been issued by the Met Office for counties Antrim and Down from 12:00 BST on Friday until 18:00 on Saturday.

Heavy showers are forecast, frequently near the coast and over high ground.

Some 10mm of rain is possible within an hour, with a few places seeing 30-40mm in six hours where the most frequent showers occur.