More than 240,000 homes and businesses were without power in Northern Ireland on Friday afternoon as Storm Éowyn battered the region.
Hundreds of trees came down during the storm, damaging properties and blocking roads.
The strongest gust of wind recorded on Friday was 148km/h at Killowen, Co Down. The record for a gust in Northern Ireland is 199km/h, which was recorded in Kilkeel, Co Down in January 1974.
Schools, colleges, the courts and many shops were closed on Friday while public transport was suspended and some health appointments were postponed due to the Met Office red warning for wind, which came into effect at 7am and was to expire at 2pm.
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The Aurora Leisure centre in Bangor, Co Down, sustained significant damage to its roof, and several large trees crashed down in Cyprus Avenue, a tree-lined street in east Belfast made famous by a Van Morrison song.
Alex Houston, network operations manager for NIE Networks, urged people to stay clear of any damaged equipment or broken power lines.
“Where trees have fallen they may have impacted on a power line even if damage isn’t immediately obvious, so please look out for power lines and, if in doubt, stay clear,” he said. “We will only be able to begin to mobilise our crews when the red alert passes.”
Flights have also been cancelled, including 16 departures and 16 arrivals at Belfast International Airport and 23 departures and 20 arrivals at Belfast City Airport. Belfast International Airport said operations would remain limited during the red weather warning.
“Across the airport site we have experienced intermittent power outages, and we are working with our airline partners to understand how their flights will be impacted as the day goes on,” it said.
“This remains a fast-moving situation and flight schedules will continue to change over the coming hours. Passengers should continue to check with their airline throughout today and tomorrow for the latest updates to flights. If their flight is operating, passengers are reminded to arrive at the airport two hours before their airlines scheduled departure time.”
NIE Networks said it has activated its emergency plans in response to Storm Éowyn and that efforts to restore power would start after 2pm when the red weather warning has been lifted.
Police said Friday is expected to see the strongest winds in the region since the Boxing Day storm of 1998 which caused widespread disruption.
“We’re seeing significant amounts of debris right across the road network,” PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck told BBC Radio Ulster. “The road network is dangerous and the message remains stay at home, stay safe and stay off the roads please.”
Ms O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly have urged people to stay at home.
“We’re asking the public to be very safe, to be very cautious, to take every precaution to ensure that they don’t take any unnecessary travel, please just stay at home if you can,” Ms O’Neill said.
“We’re in the eye of the storm now. We are in the period of the red alert. People can see for themselves, the wind has been very much picking up overnight.
“The threat is real, and we only can emphasise to people, please take every precaution that you absolutely can.” – PA
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