A number of investigations have begun today to uncover the cause of a majorlandslide in Co Galway.
The new slippage is threatening a number of roads and bridges near the village of Derrybrien.
Teams of emergency workers erected a series of barriers in a bid to stop theflow of thousands of tonnes of mud, water, trees and stones moving off a localmountainside.
One route, the link between Gort and Portumna, Co Galway, was closed totraffic as a result of the incident.
As efforts continued to pinpoint the reasons for the landslide - which damageddozens of acres of farmland and forestry in the area when it breached a seriesof makeshift dams - work was suspended on the construction of a wind-generatedelectricity plant being developed by the Hibernian Wind Power subsidiary of theESB.
The state forestry board, Coillte said it would be seekingdamages from the windfarm if necessary.
A spokesman for ESB said: "We are aware people are pointing the finger atHibernian Wind. The investigation is on-going, and there are indications therecould be a number of contributory factors for this.
"The ESB is not shirking its responsibilities."
The landslide was the third to hit the west in recentweeks.
The most serious, in Co Mayo last month, wrecked a number of homes and closedroads.
Heavy rain after long periods of dry weather during recent months is beingpartly blamed for the incidents.
PA