Storm Darragh Leaves Over 20,000 Without Power Across Northern Ireland

Storm Darragh brought widespread disruption across Northern Ireland as over 20,000 homes were left without electricity. The gusts, peaking at 70 mph, have damaged the infrastructure, and NIE Networks has warned that it could take several days to complete the restoration of power to the affected areas. When the storm peaked, it had affected 48,000 customers, and on Saturday night, about 22,000 were still waiting for power to return.

NIE Networks said that some people may see their power back on overnight, but full restoration will take days, given the severity of the damage. Community assistance centres will open tomorrow to support those still affected by power cuts, and leisure centers in several towns will be open from 2–4 p.m.

Transport and Services Affected

Storm Darragh has brought about a halt in transport, leading to the cancellation of train and bus services, as well as flights. A road accident occurred in Co Antrim early Saturday morning, in which a bus with the driver only on board had to be treated and subsequently discharged from the hospital. Translink has deployed more buses and support teams, chainsaw crews, to deal with debris on roads and railway lines.

Ferry services are also significantly affected as Stena Line suspended sailings between Belfast and Cairnryan, Scotland. A ferry off the coast of Co Antrim had to take shelter because of adverse conditions. The Strangford ferry service remains suspended until further notice.

Power Plant Damaged

Storm-related damage has caused a halt to electricity generation at the EP Ballylumford power station, as it suffered chimney damage. Station manager Tim McCullough told the public that safety and restoring operations are the utmost concerns as they work on reducing the disruptions.

Road Closures and Event Cancellations

Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure has responded to over 900 storm-related incidents, including fallen trees, debris, and flooding. Motorists have been urged to avoid non-essential travel as challenging conditions persist. Several roads, including Castle Street in Belfast, were temporarily closed for clean-up operations.

It also caused several events to be cancelled, including some Irish League football matches and a vigil in Belfast for Afghan women. The Belfast Christmas Market did not open Saturday. Organizers took the decision to keep the visitors and traders safe.

The frequent power cuts emphasize the role of energy efficiency as one of the most important approaches to save electricity and loss during extreme weather conditions. One of the innovative products is the FORCE power-saving device developed by ENPOSS. It is meant to maximize the use of electricity to minimize the general consumption of electricity, enabling households and businesses to make savings on energy and resilience during a power crisis.