NI Fire & Rescue Service assist with 85 flooding incidents during Storm Bert

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) responded to multiple calls for assistance on Saturday morning and early afternoon (23 November) as Storm Bert arrived in the province.

Heavy overnight rainfall combined with melting snowfall from Thursday and Friday, made for difficult conditions for motorists this morning.

Between 8.00am and 1.30pm NIFRS received 148 calls. Out of these, 85 of these related to flooding with crews assisting with the removal of flood water across the country utilising portable pumps.

Ten people were assisted from vehicles in flood water, while one person was rescued from a river in Antrim by local crews utilising throw lines.

Some locations have required our attendance for a protracted period including:

• Kings Row, Coalisland – 2 appliances from Dungannon, 1 appliance from Cookstown and an Officer attended. Crews utilised portable and appliance mounted pumps to remove flood water.

• Atlantic Avenue, Belfast – 1 appliance from Central, 1 from Ballyclare and an Officer attended. Crews utilised portable pumps to remove flood water.

• Park Avenue, Belfast – 3 appliances attended, one each from Knock, Holywood and Bangor stations plus 2 officers. Crews utilised portable pumps to remove flood water.

• Royal Mail Centre, Mallusk – 2 appliances from Glengormley station, 1 appliance from Westland station, 1 appliance and a High Volume Pump from Whitla station plus an officer attended to assist in the removal of flood water.

Throughout this period of heightened operational activity crews continued to respond to other incidents including reports of a gas leak, road traffic collisions and animal rescues.

A further yellow weather warning is in place for tomorrow, Sunday 24 November, from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

Strong southwesterly winds are expected to develop during Sunday morning across Northern Ireland.

Gusts of 45-55 mph are expected widely with gusts of up 65 mph possible over hills and exposed locations around the coast.

Winds will gradually ease during Sunday night.