Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Warning as 45,000 homes risk flooding
Damage bill could top £56m per year report finds
AROUND 45,000 properties in Northern Ireland are at risk of flooding as the country braces for more extreme weather, a report warned.
The danger over coming years will be caused by heavy rainfall, rivers bursting their banks and higher coastal waters.
The potential damage bill in one year if all areas at risk flooded is £56million, the review published by the Department for Infrastructure found.
A total of 45 spots are under threat but the largest cost is associated with the densely-populated greater Belfast area.
Climate change could push the number of properties at risk up by 39% by the 2080s.
The review said: “It is expected the amounts and intensities of rainfall will increase.
“There will be a trend towards stormier, more extreme weather conditions and coastal areas will be affected by rising sea levels.
“These changing conditions will increase the risk of flooding.
“Communities already at risk could see an increase in the severity or frequency of flooding and other communities not currently at risk may become affected.”
Historically Belfast has been subject to a number of significant floods.
In January 2014, the highest tidal surge was recorded in Belfast Harbour.
In June 2012, heavy rain affected 1,500 properties.