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- By Anna Maguire & Jessica Lawrence
- BBC News NI
Image source, Colin McGrath
Fears are rising in Downpatrick as a high tide is scheduled for later
There have been “apocalyptic scenes” in Downpatrick, County Down, as flooding continues to cause disruption, an assembly member has said.
Colin McGrath said about 25 businesses have been “decimated” and there are concerns over another high tide.
Bus services across Downpatrick have been suspended and parts of Portadown, County Armagh, remain badly affected.
The Department for Infrastructure has described it as “an exceptional natural event”.
Bus operator Translink confirmed its Downpatrick depot remains cut off in both directions due to flood waters and said 10 bus services in the town have been suspended.
Speaking to BBC News NI, Mr McGrath said many of the businesses in Downpatrick are not covered by flood insurance.
He called on Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris to “step up to the mark” and provide a financial package for those affected by the flooding.
A spokesperson for the Department for Infrastructure said on Thursday afternoon that, following an assessment by its engineering team, it could be the following day before progress is made to reduce floodwater on Market Street in Downpatrick town centre.
“The main reason for this is that the water levels in the river and its smaller tributaries need to decrease before we can make meaningful progress,” they said.
In Kilkeel, County Down, the Newcastle Road has been closed due to serious structural damage, with the police warning people to avoid it and obey road closure signs. It is not yet clear how long the road will be closed.
Newcastle Road in Kilkeel, which was closed on Thursday afternoon because of structural damage
DUP assembly member Diane Forsyth told BBC News NI that the closure was devastating for businesses and residents because it is the the main road into Kilkeel.
She said diversions are currently through back roads which need attention in the flooding’s aftermath – are now being frequented by heavy traffic.
“The road has been compromised – there are sink holes on either side,” she said.
“Businesses have been struggling to operate with few deliveries unable to get in and it has also proved isolating for residents.”
Image source, Department for Infrastructure
Flooding has also affected parts of the Lagan Towpath in Belfast
In Belfast, the Department for Infrastructure warned people to avoid using the Lagan Towpath due to flooding.
It has said it has distributed 20,000 sandbags since Monday, after
He added that it will take some time for the flooding to drain away.
In Downpatrick, he said water levels at Strangford Lough had risen to high levels and “when the peak tide rose with those river levels, we saw this overflowing”.
“It’s a very difficult situation to try to combat this,” he added.
Downpatrick restaurant and bar owner Bartley Murphy told Good Morning Ulster that his business remained under four feet of flood water.
“I stood at half four [on Thursday morning] on my own, crying my eyes out at the back of the bar. It’s devastating,” he said.
Boat trips and low suppies
by BBC News NI’s Darran Marshall in Portadown
Homes across parts of Portadown are completely cut off.
Local councillors are talking with agencies to have portaloos delivered to housing developments.
Some are running out of food.
Young people are travelling up the road in boats, delivering sandbags and medication.
The water is too deep for me to get through, but I’ve seen video footage from inside homes – water above the windows and washing machines floating in garages.
A drone image taken above Island Road shows three homes sitting on a small piece of land and completely surrounded by water.
Mr Murphy questioned whether some businesses in the County Down town will recover from the impact of this week’s floods.
“This is not a war, this is nature. And nature has called a hard one on us here,” he added.
“We need our politicians. Get out and get back into Stormont. Please, please, please go in; help your people, help your voters.”
Norman and Mary Muholland have had to use an inflatable boat
One couple who live on the outskirts of Downpatrick, Norman and Mary Muholland, told BBC News NI that the flooding means that the only way in or out of their home is either by rowing a dinghy 100m or hiking for 15 minutes through waterlogged fields.
Rodney Watson, from Watson Autos, a vehicle recovery firm in Portadown, said he had recovered more than 20 vehicles from floodwaters across the town over the past 24 hours.
Rodney Watson said he had recovered more than 20 vehicles from flooding in Portadown in a 24-hour period
He said some cars were floating in the train station car park and that the water level was much higher on Thursday than the previous day.
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