Record-breaking winds from Storm Eoin lashed the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland on Monday, knocking out power to almost a third of homes and businesses. The storm caused hundreds of flights to be cancelled, schools to be closed and public transport to be disrupted, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Officials warned that the storm could be one of the most dangerous in recent years. The Irish Meteorological Service recorded wind gusts of 182 km/h tonight - the highest recorded in the last 80 years.
In Dublin, the streets remained deserted even during rush hour after authorities imposed a red alert and urged residents to stay indoors. This is the first national red alert since 2017, when Storm Ophelia killed three people.
Energy operator "ESB Networks" said the storm had caused "unprecedented" damage to the power grid, leaving more than 715,000 homes, farms and businesses in Ireland without power. In Northern Ireland, 93,000 buildings were also affected. The operator said it would take at least a week to restore power in some areas.
"Eowyn" is the fourth storm in four months to cause major power outages in Ireland. However, scientists have yet to establish a definitive link between the frequency of such storms and climate change.
In addition to the wind, the storm has also increased the risk of flooding, with the Irish Meteorological Service issuing warnings for coastal areas. Studies suggest that a sea level rise of at least 1 metre in Ireland by the end of the century will increase the frequency of such extreme events.
Safety measures include the closure of all schools in Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as the temporary suspension of public transport while the code red remains in force. Non-urgent hospital procedures have also been cancelled.
About 230 flights have been cancelled at Dublin Airport, with further cancellations likely. Dozens of flights at Belfast, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports are also affected.
The British Meteorological Service specified that the code red for Northern Ireland remains in force until 14:00 local time, and the warning for Scotland is valid from 10:00 to 17:00.