ESB Networks has announced that customers who remained without power overnight will see their supply restored by noon today or even earlier.
By Saturday evening, approximately 14,000 customers were grappling with power outages. However, ESB Networks noted that a considerable number of these customers have already had their power supply reinstated over the last few hours.
In specific, around half of these affected customers were situated in the Swords and Malahide areas of North Dublin, where significant outages were experienced. ESB Networks issued its most recent update on Saturday evening, indicating that power restoration in these areas should be complete by nightfall.
Maintenance crews worked tirelessly through the night and will continue to do so, ensuring that safety remains a priority. They are expected to be operational again as the first light of day breaks.
A spokesperson from ESB Networks shared that the number of customers without power overnight will be in the “low thousands.” Reassuringly, these households can anticipate electricity to be reinstated in the morning.
For those still awaiting power restoration, the estimated times have been updated on Power Check. Generally, the timeframe indicates that power will be restored by noon the following day for customers who won’t have their electricity reinstated during the night.
The spokesperson earlier mentioned that the areas most affected by overnight power outages were north Dublin, Wicklow, and Wexford.
Storm Betty brought its fury, causing flooding and rendering roads unsafe with fallen trees, branches, and debris. Its impact spanned across much of the southern regions of the country, extending through the night into the early morning hours.
The storm’s forceful winds inflicted damage on the power network during the night, impacting over 70,000 homes, farms, and businesses at its peak.
ESB Networks released a statement on the evening of the incident, acknowledging that their crews had been diligently working since dawn to restore electricity to homes, farms, and businesses affected by the storm’s strong winds and lightning, which had damaged the network.
The statement emphasized that all available resources were mobilized, and ESB Networks crews were committed to working late into the night to complete power restoration. The company also expressed apologies for the disruptions the outages had caused to families and commercial activities.
The impact of the storm was felt on various fronts. The Clontarf Public Baths in Dublin, known as a local paradise, suffered significant damage according to workers and volunteers. A 94-year-old woman narrowly escaped injury when a large tree in her front garden fell during the storm, missing her Rathmines home. Additionally, a taxi driver in Templeogue, south Dublin, also escaped harm when a tree struck his car.
Transportation was disrupted too, with trees falling onto the rail line between Drogheda and Dundalk, leading to terminations on the Dublin to Belfast train service.
As of now, all weather alerts from Met Éireann have been lifted.
In Cork city, the council’s road, drainage, and fire crews worked tirelessly. The Cork City Fire Service responded to seven calls on the preceding evening and an additional 15 overnight, which included addressing crashes and incidents such as a car colliding with a truck on the Airport Road. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.
In some areas, rivers overflowed their banks, causing flooding and threats to houses. Efforts were focused on containment and rescue where necessary.
While various parts of the country experienced storm-related incidents, the overall impact of Storm Betty was not as widespread as initially feared. Cork City Council’s David Joyce highlighted the occurrence of several significant events but noted that the storm’s repercussions were localized.
As the cleanup efforts continue, residents and authorities remain vigilant for any additional reports of damage.
