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Updated 8.20pm
A TOTAL OF 330,000 customers around the country are currently without electricity after Storm Ophelia caused major damage across Ireland.
ESB Networks has said impacted customers should prepare to be without power overnight and for a number of days.
It has also confirmed that between 1,650 and 3,300 premises will not see a return to service for up to 10 days.
Fallen trees on overhead lines are responsible for most of the damage to the network.
In its latest statement, issued at 8.15pm, ESB Networks said emergency crews have been deployed across the country and are dealing with emergencies and restoring power where it is safe to do so.
A spokesperson noted that loss of service to this scale is “unprecedented”.
As you can see from the map, areas across the entire country are affected.
In a statement, ESB Networks said: “Based on previous experience of Storm Darwin in 2014, where about 280,000 customers were left without supply, we can predict that it will take a number of days to restore power to all customers. Five to ten per cent of this number will be without power for up to ten days.”
It also issued a warning about customers who use electrically powered medical devices and who are without power:
It is very important that any customers who use electrically powered medical devices should contact their healthcare professional to make alternative arrangements if necessary.
Affected areas
The ESB has warned customers not to approach fallen electricity wires under any circumstances.
To keep up to date with the areas affected by power outages, click here.
The ESB has asked customers not to call the network about normal power outages in order to keep phone lines open for emergencies.
To report emergency and dangerous situations on ESB Networks please call 1850 372 999 or +353 21 2382410.
Meanwhile, 11,000 Eir customers are without broadband, telephone and mobile services.
The company said 90 of its mobile sites are off=air with the worst affected areas being the southwest, west and midlands.
The number of outages is expected to rise as access for crews to problem areas is limited because of road closures.
In a statement, the company said Ophelia had “delivered unprecedented and widespread levels of damage to Eir’s infrastructure throughout the country”.
This includes damage to poles, cables and mast infrastructure. We anticipate that the network damage will extend as the storm tracks across the country.
It said the repair work will take some time given the “overhead nature of the network in rural Ireland”.
If damaged infrastructure is causing a public safety risk, people are asked to contact 1850 245 424 or An Garda Siochana.
Customers can find the latest information via www.eir.ie and can also log faults on the “Log a Fault” section of www.eir.ie or through an automated customer service line 1901. Faults can be reported to either service 24 hours a day, seven days week.
With reporting by Sinead O’Carroll, Orla Ryan and Christine Bohan
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In county Waterford ,The trampoline is still on my property, the wife has worse wind than this.
@Dáithí Ó Raghallaigh: ”In county Waterford ,The trampoline is still on my property,” can the owners please come and collect , address says , Skibereen co Cork .
@Dáithí Ó Raghallaigh:
Errrr, it hasn’t reached us yet
@Avina Laaf: trust me, you’ll know when it does
@Dáithí Ó Raghallaigh: It’s managed to kill or severely injure a few people and it’s only 1:45 (it was meant to get bad from 1 onwards) yet people still think it’s nothing.
Know whats so bizarre about this? During the ebola crises people were in an insane panic about a disease that’s not even highly contagious and isn’t airborne, demanding (non existent) Ireland-Africa flights be canceled and doctors and solders coming back be quarantined, despite the fact that even if we had a few cases here it never would have caused an outbreak. People constantly worry about an ISIS attack when, although it’s possible, they’ve bigger fish to fry and prefer to use us as an admin base, but when a real actual emergency that can actually kill people hits not only do people not care they willfully put themselves, their kids and their pets in danger on the coast and say “sure it’s nothing”
@Ryan Carroll: The people who’s heads you have just bitten off for not being terrified enough, left their comments six or seven hours ago.
@Ryan Carroll: Ebola not highly contagious…so the Doctors wear all the safety gear for a bit of dress up fun
On a positive note, there’s great drying out there. As long as you sew the clothes to the line.
@Benny McHale: its not funny
@Benny McHale: I don’t think to many will be pinning their washing to the mast today
The humour police are out in force now. Apparently they volunteer on days like this, even when their day jobs are saying they should stay at home. Brave heroes.
@Ladude: it is never funny when people loose their lives.
@Benny McHale: Do you still have a line after all that?
Anyone wanna buy a groupon voucher for a kayaking trip in Cork harbour for this evening?
This is an unbelievable tempest. Wind so strong it’s pushed Cong into the neighbouring county of Galway. At least ye have an all Ireland now.
@Etherman: is this a free state hurricane or an all Ireland 32 county one?
@The Dons: this is a real one,not provisional
They’re going to be waiting a while. I can’t see the ESB repair crews being able to go out safely until late this evening or early tomorrow
@Tweety McTweeter: ESB crews will not be sent out untill the storm has passed
I’m in County Galway and the weather is very mild!..Calm before the storm!!
@Lord Clanricarde: eye of the storm…
@Gus Sheridan:
The eye hast even reaches cork yet still a couple of hundred miles away
Its a bit of wind and rain in kerry……I think the country may well have overreacted.
@stephen mc galey: well it’s calm for you not here in cork
@stephen mc galey: Christ Almighty Man the whole world is blowing away around us here in Tipperary.Tis like Florida without the palm trees!
wish me luck ,we only have an outside toilet,
@Christy Pop: Good luck. As a smoker, I know how that is. May it still be there for you.
This is what we get for allowing gays in the military .
Sorry that was meant for the Westboro baptist church hurricane committee .
@Paddy Hayden:
@Paddy Hayden:
@Paddy Hayden:
@Paddy Hayden:
@Paddy Hayden:
@Paddy Hayden:
@Paddy Hayden:
@Paddy Hayden:
@Paddy Hayden:
@Paddy Hayden:
@David Preston: It’s very echoey here :D
@David Preston: Have I done a James Cordon ?
@David Preston:
Come on David, spit it out….
@David Preston: Fu*k off. I hate repetition.
@David Preston: you can say that again.
Totally beyond me why the ESB continue to run overhead lines near or through trees.
@Paul Dolan: E.S.B have the right under health and safety to “trim back ” branches to a safe distance and can only remove trees with the permission of the land/homeowner .Many who refuse but then moan and complain when their tree come down and they have no power , Seen cases when people have sown trees under lines with their children /grandchildren climbing them .Many people dont know that you dont have to “touch “the wire to be electrocuted .or that the sap in the tree will cause the electricity to travel down the tree ,depending on the voltage on the line .
@whitecross: Complete agree with you however in cases where trees have come down it is from what I have seen are 100yr old trees which have done the damage. Only last week the ESB connected a new house and ran low voltage lines via 4 new poles through or within 10ft of pretty large trees.
Cork is kicking off now, don’t go into town, even McDonald’s and Carroll’s are closed
Power just gone in Leixlip
@Brian Lilly: There’s a tree down near Cooldrinagh Lane. Nearly opposite the entrance to the ESB substation. It seems to have brought down the power lines.
@Stephen Small: Just had a quick look, and the forecasted restoration of services time is 18:00 tomorrow.
@Stephen Small: Brief flicker of power there for a couple of seconds, and now the feckin slope detectors are chirping like an aviary!
@Stephen Small: *smoke detectors
Dublin still very calm : /
@Chris Martin: Luas about to stop the service at midday. Surely they have to make Christmas shopping too. https://www.luas.ie/travel-updates/
@Chris Martin: Strong gusts of wind in South Dublin but it is really after 1.00 that Dublin is to be impacted.
@Honeybee: Quarter past 1 now, storm still taking its time to arrive
@Larissa Caroline Nikolaus: it must’ve bypassed where I am too because we had nothing major ..
Teresa Mannion reporting on swimmers at Salthill though
The storm here is mental! I’m in Cork and u can barely walk!
@Adam O Leary: ,Stay safe ,severe winds with gusts here in Leinster trees, down and its only starting
no jacks roll had to use the irish independent ,jesus that papers ruff. wow the door just blew off the jacks
Add the midlands to your updates, Laois offaly now without power
@Joseph Dempsey: We are in Laois, we still have p
@Joseph Dempsey: didnt think they had electricity
@Christy Pop: power gone in South Laois since before 1pm. Top wind of 66mph also
@Daniel Dunne: power was out in Birr for over 3 hours but restored about an hour ago. Well done ESB networks!
@Daniel Dunne: in general
Simon and Garfuncle
Ophelia, your braking my heart
your shaking my chimney badly
Ophelia, I’m down on my knees
I’m begging you please
to feck off
Ophelia, your braking my heart
your shaking me while house sadly
Ophelia, I’m dragging my knees
I’m begging you please
to go home
Making Zzz’s in the afternoon
with Ophelia bursting my bedroom
I got up to wash my face
when I went back to bed
’twas in a new place
Ophelia, your braking my heart
your shaking my street now strangely
Ophelia, where are my knees
I’m begging you please
to feck off, just feck off!
No no no no no
No no no no no no no no
Pick it up pick it pick it up
Well done ESB Waterford. Power restored in less than two hours.
I remember ESB crews going to the UK to help them also they went too France some years ago why not ask them for help now in stead of telling us we could be without power for up to 10 days ?
It mental in Cork, u can barely walk!
The 4 of Us are playing Tullamore next Friday night. https://www.ticketweb.ie/event/the-4-of-us-hugh-lynchs-bar-venue-tickets/7646945
@@HughLynchsBar: shameful
@@HughLynchsBar: haha you find every opportunity for a plug…..
… better atmosphere in The Manor or Joe Lee’s thou..
still have power in Leitrim. 4kw Generator at the ready just in case
Over reaction a bit of wind all hyped up
No power here in Greystones
Strongest storm in 50 years? There were much stronger in the early 80s 170kph – I remember when proper damage was done. I suspect a lot of exaggerated reporting to cover up the mistaken hype.
@Ranty McCrank: 191kph was recorded today in Cork. And all that “mistaken hype” has prevented the death toll exceeding 3 (so far) as everything was shut down and most people stayed indoors
There is a strong argument regarding the height of trees along roads I think there should be legislation not allowing them over say 20 feet in height.
@Tony Hartigan: There’s also the fact that they balance the water table. Cut down all your trees and you will find yourself squelching around in a damper place altogether.
Take the electricity from the nordies
@A B: How do propose we do that? Put it in crates on the back of a Lorry?
Couldn’t fit Donegal on that map? Arseholes.
Was lucky enough to not feel a bit of it in Dublin city centre
have your say