Students seek emergency funds after flooding

Several hundred students in Athlone, Co Westmeath, are seeking emergency funds after floods seriously damaged their belongings…

Several hundred students in Athlone, Co Westmeath, are seeking emergency funds after floods seriously damaged their belongings and accommodation on Sunday night.

Residents and students in the Willow area of the town had to cope with up to three feet of water. The belongings of more than 300 students and 100 residents were seriously damaged. Some students had to take accommodation in a local hotel for the night.

Many students lost valuables such as computers, televisions and videos in the floods.

According to the students union at the Athlone Institute of Technology, the students will have no place to live for the next few weeks. Others will remain in their accommodation, although they have to contend with serious water damage.

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Mr Ian Harnett, president of the union, said he was calling on the Government to provide emergency funding for the students who suffered losses.

After a small local river broke its banks on Sunday night, about 70 students had to spend the night in the student union offices.

A spokesman for the institute said about 300 of its students lived in Willow estate.

A large number of families spent the night in temporary accommodation, but returned to their homes yesterday.