HOUSEHOLDERS WHO were evacuated from their properties yesterday after a water mains burst on the north side of Cork city have paid tribute to the emergency services for their swift response.
A total of 29 people had to be evacuated from their homes after a 40cm water mains burst on the Old Youghal Road at about 2.30am yesterday, sending tens of thousands of gallons of water down the Cork Fever Hospital steps near Murphy’s Brewery.
For many local residents this was their second experience of major flooding, with a similar incident occurring in the area 15 years ago. Four units of the Cork City Fire Service attended in addition to two ambulances, gardaí and city water services personnel.
Cliona Carroll, who lives in Shandon View Terrace, said fire officers displayed incredible efficiency even though they were working in difficult conditions.
“I couldn’t praise the fire service higher. They came along and worked with industriousness and ingenuity to release the water pressure. They did all of this in the dark of night. They dealt with us warmly and they gave us their time,” she said.
Pensioner John Hartnett had to be evacuated from his home at Shandon View Terrace after it resembled a “swimming pool”.
“My daughter Elaine is only out of hospital. She was sleeping downstairs and we heard her crying. My wife got up to see what was happening. I have had five hip operations and I can hardly walk so it has been hard. We have no electricity or heat. We have no idea what is going to happen. We are getting on to the insurance company and we will see what happens.”
A member of the ambulance crew on duty yesterday morning required hospital treatment after he was knocked off his feet by the deluge of water. Houses in Shandon View were affected by more than a foot of water while houses in Shandon Court were flooded to a depth of 4ft.
Members of the fire service brought in pumping equipment to clear the water from houses as residents surveyed the damaged. The bill is likely to run into hundreds of thousands of euro.
Gerry Myers, third officer with the city fire service, said the emergency services were met by a “horrific sight” at the scene of the flooding. In Shandon Court, officers evacuated a young couple with a baby while in Shandon Cottages an elderly couple were trapped upstairs. The water supply to the burst mains has been switched off and repairs were under way yesterday. The mains carries about 250,000 gallons of water per hour.
Mr Myers said the fire station got a call at 2.30am from the Munster Regional Control Centre relating to a large volume of water coming down the hospital steps. “When we arrived here it resembled a tsunami coming down the steps. The water levels have lowered. But basically it is dealing now with the aftermath and the damage. I am informed by Cork City Council water department that hopefully the destruction will be fairly localised. It will be Shandon Court here and just the cottages below it that will be without water until the leak is repaired.”
The local authority is offering emergency alternative accommodation to affected householders. Traffic diversions were in place yesterday morning and gardaí closed off the Northern Ring Road. Householders on the northside of Cork city experienced disruption to their water supply as the burst mains was being repaired.
Lord Mayor of Cork Councillor Mick O’Connell congratulated members of the emergency services for their quick response and said every effort was being made to accommodate householders affected by the flooding.