Storm Boelo: Power restored to most NI homes as ESB crews work on
NIE Networks restored power to about 11,500 of 12,500 properties cut off by Storm Boelo, while about 5,000 ESB Networks customers remained without supply Sunday evening.
The story in focus
BBC News reports Northern Ireland Electricity Networks restored power to about 11,500 of roughly 12,500 properties cut off during Storm Boelo, with fewer than 1,000 still affected. ESB Networks said about 5,000 homes, farms and businesses in the Republic of Ireland remained without electricity on Sunday evening, mainly in the north-west.
- NIE Networks said about 12,500 properties lost power at one stage during Storm Boelo and around 11,500 had been reconnected.
- ESB Networks said roughly 5,000 premises in the Republic of Ireland were still without electricity on Sunday evening, chiefly in the north-west.
- Orlock Head in County Down recorded Northern Ireland's strongest gust at 78mph, while Malin Head in Donegal reached 83mph.
- Castlederg and Lough Fea each recorded almost 40mm of rain, and the Met Office issued a yellow wind warning for Tuesday.
Restoration progress on both sides of the border
BBC News reports that Storm Boelo cut power to around 12,500 properties in Northern Ireland. NIE Networks said it had restored supply to about 11,500 customers, leaving fewer than 1,000 affected, and that crews hoped to reconnect the remainder Sunday night depending on the complexity of each repair. The company pointed customers to its Powercheck tool for estimated restoration times.
In the Republic of Ireland, an ESB Networks spokesperson said about 5,000 homes, farms and businesses were still without electricity on Sunday evening, primarily in the north-west. Crews were deployed to all impacted areas, and the utility said it expected the vast majority of affected customers to have supply restored by that evening.
Wind, rain and travel disruption
The storm's strongest gust in Northern Ireland reached 78mph at Orlock Head, County Down, on Saturday; Malin Head in Donegal recorded 83mph. Castlederg and Lough Fea in the Sperrins each recorded almost 40mm of rain. Yellow warnings for Northern Ireland and County Donegal ended on Sunday, and the Foyle Bridge in Londonderry reopened after closing on Saturday.
The Department for Infrastructure said around 470 incidents, mainly fallen trees, branches and surface water, had been reported. Flights were cancelled at Belfast City, Belfast International and Dublin airports, and some Stena Line and P&O Ferries sailings were cancelled. Temporary flood defences remained at two Belfast roads as a precaution. The Met Office issued a yellow wind warning for Antrim, Down and Londonderry on Tuesday, with gusts of 70mph or more possible in exposed areas.
What it means for residents
Households still without supply face continued disruption into Sunday night, while the Tuesday warning signals another period of possible outages and travel delays during the half-term week. The source did not specify how many customers remained off supply after Sunday evening.
How many properties in Northern Ireland were without power at the peak of Storm Boelo?
About 12,500 properties lost power at one stage, according to NIE Networks. By Sunday, around 11,500 had been reconnected, leaving fewer than 1,000 still affected.
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