Fermanagh Raises Flood Alert

With west-east access already limited to bridges in Enniskillen, more flooding is expected in Co Fermanagh as heavy rain means water levels in Lough Erne continue to rise today.

With bridges under water across the county, all vehicles are being diverted through Enniskillen, as it is the only passable route from the east side of the lough to the west - with more misery on the way.

Yesterday, a Roads Service spokeswoman said: "Motorists should not risk driving through floods unless you are sure your vehicle can cope with deep water."

He was commenting as several roads were closed as Lough Erne rose to record levels.

Riverside pathways in Enniskillen are well under water and car parks at Wellington Road and Broadmeadow are also badly affected.

The flooding has caused problems for farmers and commuters in the county hit by road closures as Lough Erne reached its highest recorded levels since major drainage scheme works in the 1950s.

SDLP Deputy Leader Alasdair McDonnell said global warming and increasing rainfall meant the situation across the province would only get worse.

"We need to face up to the reality, we are sleepwalking into a flooding crisis. The structure and capacity is not in place to deal with the flooding situation we currently face.

"We either continue as we are, allowing the Department for the Environment, Department for Regional Development and NI Water to duck and dive and pass the buck or we can get our act together and set up a single body, a Special Flooding Task Force," he told the Belfast Telegraph, last night.

The Met office warned further rainfall could exacerbate the situation in flooded areas, where the ground is already saturated.

There is an advisory about heavy rains, especially for Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone with the meterologists expecting 20-30mm in places and it could get up to 50mm in higher ground.

The reasons for flooding are varied and it will take more than a week for the water level in Lough Erne to fall to a level which will resolve the widespread flooding across Fermanagh.

Already, the outlet channel along the Erne River through Belleek and on to Ballyshannon and the Atlantic has been operating at full capacity with excess flow spilling at Cliff and Ballyshannon Hydroelectric Station in Co Donegal.

However, the rate of water flow means that water passing narrower river areas - such as in Belleek - are highly dangerous with anyone entering the water in very grave danger of being swept away to a watery death.

In Dublin today, Taoiseach Brian Cowen has announced his government will provide state assistance to those hardest hit by the ongoing flooding crisis.

This week the Irish Farmers Association President called for an emergency package to be put in place by the Government to assist those worst by the flooding crisis. Also across the border, emergency services continue to work around the in areas affected by severe flooding as more rainfall is forecast by Met Eireann.

Some 20 homes remain evacuated in the Shannon Banks - Corbally area of Limerick as a number of minor routes around the city remain impassable.

The region remains on high alert after more rainfall last night and the releasing of more water by the Electricity Supply Board at Parteen Weir to reduce pressure on its power station at Ardnacrusha.

However, almost all the main roads in Cork city are now clear but thousands of people are still without a water supply in their homes.

See:Cowen Announces Aid For Flood Victims

(BMcC)