The worst October rains since 1987 have left a trail of destruction in Counties Down and Antrim. Closed roads, landslides and localised flooding of homes have followed three days of persistent heavy rain which equalled a month's average rainfall.
The scenic coast road which runs the length of Co Antrim was closed yesterday due to a landslide at the well-known Black Arch. Elsewhere in the county there were road closures in parts of Glengormly and Carrickfergus.
Other roads closed included a section of the Ballygomartin Road in the Forthriver area of north Belfast, the cross-Border Newry-Omeath road which skirts the southern shore of Carlingford Lough and the Newcastle to Kilkeel road in Co Down. Homes and business premises were clearing up yesterday as the rain gave way to heavy showers. Rainwater spilled off the Mourne Mountains damaging buildings along Bryansford Road in Newcastle. Residents spent the night sand-bagging their doors as the flood waters rose to knee-height.
The makeshift defences held up in most cases but some homes beside Donard Park were badly damaged. Conditions were made worse by the high tides yesterday morning and strong winds. Staff in a local pub worked around the clock blocking doorways with sandbags and sweeping out rainwater. Prefabricated classrooms at the nearby St Mary's Primary School stood in water over a foot deep.
Pumping equipment was brought into the area during the morning to disperse the floodwater and by mid-morning the waters had started to subside.
Mr John White of the North's Roads Service said yesterday: "It's been particularly bad in the Newcastle area where the main emphasis has been on trying to keep the roads open. But the water flowing off the mountains combined with the very high tide has certainly caused extensive flooding."