NIGHTMARE AS KILLARNEY FLOODS ... IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DROUGHT
A MASSIVE burst of an Irish Water pipe flooded part of Killarney, Co. Kerry, yesterday evening, with water surging under the doors of shops and homes in the popular tourist town.
A major break in the main public water supply scheme from Killarney to Tralee caused the damage, which occurred in the Deerpark area of Killarney, close to Aldi and Tesco supermarkets.
Shirt-sleeved holidaymakers and locals could only watch on in disbelief as the flooding spread along the main road and into forecourts and gardens, bringing traffic to a standstill.
The deluge came at a time when Irish Water is enforcing supply restrictions in parts of the county.
Cars had to slow down and drive slowly through the swelling floodwaters in Killarney last night
One photo posted online showed muddy water enveloping the entrance to a local shop.
The floodwater, which blew a giant crater in the road, also surged through a small commercial park, Central Point, flooding its basement, and threatening shops in the premises.
Although panicking homeowners were battling desperately to keep the murky water from seeping under their doors, some were unsuccessful. Gardaí were quickly on the scene to manage traffic but Killarney councillor Donal Grady, who lives in the area, said he was ‘very annoyed’ the fire service was not at the scene last night.
He said at least two people made 999 calls but, for reasons unknown to him, the fire service was not in attendance over an hour after the main water system break.