A male individual has passed away as Storm Amy sweeps through the UK and Ireland. The man, believed to be in his 40s, lost his life in a weather-related incident in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, as confirmed by Gardai. Emergency services responded to the scene around 4:15 pm.
Following the unfortunate event, the man’s body was taken to the morgue at Letterkenny University Hospital for a post mortem examination. Gardai are conducting investigations, and the post mortem results will guide the next steps, with a file being prepared for the coroner.
Storm Amy has brought strong winds and rain across the British Isles as it approached the UK and Ireland today, leading to approximately 50,000 properties losing power in Northern Ireland due to the storm’s impact. NIE Networks reported a significant level of damage to the electricity networks in the region.
In Northern Ireland, a yellow wind warning was issued for the entire area from 2 pm on Friday until midnight on Saturday. Additionally, a yellow rain warning is in effect until midday on Saturday, with potential flooding warnings for homes and businesses.
The UK Met Office warned of wind speeds up to 80mph along the most exposed coastal areas, posing risks of fallen trees and power outages. An amber wind warning was also issued for specific regions in Northern Ireland. The storm is expected to bring damaging winds and possible power outages, with gusts reaching up to 80mph in coastal areas.
Furthermore, approximately 184,000 homes, farms, and businesses in the Republic of Ireland lost power during the storm, primarily in counties Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Cavan, and Donegal. The ESB announced that restoration work will continue, but due to hazardous weather conditions, most customers may not have their power restored immediately.