Storm Ciaran: NI braced for even more heavy rain and further flooding
Rail services are again affected while a number of roads are closed.
Meanwhile, a clean-up operation is continuing in towns and cities following the “catastrophic” rainfall, amid fears it could be hampered by further downpours.
More rain is forecast on Thursday with a further alert due to come into force at 6am until midnight.
Watch: Newry businesses affected after serious flooding
It comes amid growing anger in Newry, which has been devastated by flooding, after the city’s canal burst its banks on Monday.
Homes and businesses have been destroyed by the floodwater with authorities frantically handing out sandbags on Tuesday to try and prevent further damage.
A man walks along a fence to avoid flood water in Newry
On Wednesday morning, Translink announced that its cross-border Enterprise service was disrupted.
It said: “Due to flooding on the line between Portadown and Dundalk a bus sub will remain in place today. Further updates will be provided this afternoon.”
It said the Bangor rail line has been closed due to flooding and staff are awaiting a line inspection.
Ulsterbus services are affected in Downpatrick, Co Down, due to “severe flooding” in the area. The Newry service is terminating at Castlewellan due to the Burrenbridge flood.
Today the PSNI said the Manse Road in the Four Winds area of south Belfast is currently impassable due to flooding.
The Department for Infrastructure said almost 800 calls were made to the flooding incident line in recent days.
“As a result over 12,000 sandbags have been deployed to areas worst affected particularly in the Newry and South Eastern area, where rain intensity, high tides and saturated ground has caused the flooding.
“River and lough levels continue to be monitored as levels rise and will continue to do so over the coming days.
“People are urged to stay away from flood defences, flooded areas and watercourses.”
In Newry there are fears that the worst could be to come, with “unprecedented” water levels disrupting crews dealing with the flooding.
There is palpable anger with questions now being asked of the Department for Infrastructure about the impact of budget cuts.
The Newry Chamber of Commerce held a number of emergency meetings with the local council on Tuesday as efforts were stepped up to secure premises during overnight high-tide.
Watch: Joseph Magee’s bar shut due to serious flooding in Newry
It said the priority at this stage following “catastrophic flooding in Newry city centre” remains the protection of life and property.
“The need for a longer-term solution is now urgent and as a chamber, we believe tackling the infrastructure underinvestment in Newry simply can no longer be ignored,” the statement concluded.
Emergency services at the scene in Newry
It comes after a Department for Infrastructure (DfI) official appeared to concede there was a lack of preparation.
Paddy Lavery told BBC Radio Ulster “we have measurements on the rivers, loughs, tides and we haven’t seen this before”.
Watch: McCartan Bros Clothing Store in ‘absolute mess’ following flooding, owner says
“This is an area we haven’t dealt with.
“We have a finite resource. Where is the water to get away to?”
Mr Lavery assured residents that “every available resource” was being utilised with the most at risk areas being prioritised.
He also said four roads had been affected by landslips amid the “unprecedented” conditions.
The main N1 motorway linking Dublin and Belfast at the border was closed in both directions as emergency services tried to clear the flooding
Sections of the city remained under water last night with Sugar Island, Kildare Street, Canal Quay and part of Bridge Street among the worst affected areas.
People were photographed paddling a boat along the road outside McCartan Bros menswear shop while the distraught owner attempted to salvage what was left of his new Christmas stock.
Paul McCartan woke up to discover thousands of pounds worth of damage at the store which is not protected against flood damage – many businesses in the area are unable to get insurance cover.
A car is submerged in Newry after severe floods
Members of the public have been told to avoid the canal and the river “due to the hazardous conditions caused by high water levels and the fast flowing current”.
It is understood part of a wall collapsed at Merchant’s Quay allowing even more water to seep through on Tuesday.
Meanwhile Newry Courthouse has been forced to temporarily close from Wednesday and cases have been redirected to Craigavon.
Three men paddle boat through Newry after flooding
Elsewhere police were forced to evacuate people from Solitude Park in Banbridge after water levels in the River Bann rose “dangerously high”.
Parents with children were ordered to immediately leave the vicinity.
DfI’s flood incident line has been inundated with hundreds of calls from stricken residents across NI.
Roads in Killowen, Camlough, Moira, Ballynahinch and Bangor were rendered impassable.
Newry has been hit by severe flooding
A number of patients in the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald had to be moved due to some rooms being soaked after a rainwater pipe became blocked.
Parts of Co Armagh have also been hit hard by flooding.
Main Street in Camlough had to be closed after motorists were forced to abandon their cars in the village where homes and businesses have also been destroyed.
Camlough Rovers FC’s 3G pitch was almost completely submerged in floodwater.
Three men paddle boat through Newry after flooding
Residents in Newcastle resorted to placing sand bags at their front doors in a desperate attempt to save their homes from rising water.
The Marguerite Avenue area was one of the worst affected in the town with energy supplies adversely impacted.
DfI said it is continuing to work with the PSNI and other agencies to respond to the “emerging situation”.
The Emergency Payment Scheme for flooding is now active with severely affected households across NI eligible to claim £1,000 through their local council.
Travel chaos is expected to continue with a number of rail services remaining suspended.
The severe floods in Newry city centre
Major roads including the north bound carriageway of the N1 which links Newry and Dublin had to close on Tuesday.
The Met Office has confirmed that 75.4mm of rain fell within 24 hours in Killowen, Co Down with 35.4mm recorded around 22miles away in Murlough.
A total of 38mm was recorded in Glenanne, Co Armagh.
Watch: Shops flooded as Newry Canal bursts in ‘unprecedented’ flooding
Up to another 50mm of rain was expected overnight on Tuesday into Wednesday in eastern areas with up to 25mm possible everywhere.
“After a very brief respite, another spell of heavy rain is likely to move from the southwest later on Tuesday and at first on Wednesday,” the Met Office warned.
Further flooding is expected in Counties Antrim, Armagh and Down on Thursday as heavy rain associated with
Storm Ciarán brings even more disruption.
“Rainfall amounts are likely to reach 10-20 mm in a number of places, with perhaps as much as 30-40 mm of rain falling across parts of Co Down,” the Met Office is forecasting.
“Given recent very wet weather, this could lead to further impacts.
“Strong northerly or northeasterly winds may exacerbate any impacts from the rainfall.”