Storm Éowyn Leaves Thousands Without Power in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

London, The Gulf Observer: Storm Éowyn has caused widespread disruption across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, leaving tens of thousands of customers without power and causing significant damage to infrastructure.
As of Sunday, around 75,000 customers in Northern Ireland remain without power, following the destruction to the electricity network by the storm, which brought winds exceeding 90 mph to the region. A yellow weather warning for wind remains in effect across Northern Ireland, lasting from 10:00 to 19:00 GMT, with gusts expected to reach up to 60 mph in some areas. Additionally, a yellow warning for snow and ice is in place from 18:00 GMT on Saturday to 10:00 on Sunday.
The impact of Storm Éowyn has been severe, with nearly a million properties without power across the British Isles at its peak, and many roads and rail links blocked. Although power has been restored to 210,000 properties, NIE Networks managing director Derek Hynes has estimated it will take around 10 days to complete the repairs needed to restore electricity to all affected areas.
In the Republic of Ireland, approximately 330,000 customers remain without power, down from a peak of 768,000. ESB Networks has stated that most customers will have power restored by Friday night, with the remainder expected to have their service restored over the course of the following week. Additionally, 109,000 people are still without water, with 126,000 more at risk, according to Uisce Éireann.
The storm also claimed a tragic life, with a 20-year-old man, Kacper Dudek, killed when a tree fell on his car in Raphoe, County Donegal. In Northern Ireland, the Police Service has warned motorists to exercise caution, as many roads remain impassable due to fallen trees, power lines, and debris.
Elsewhere, rescue operations continue. On Saturday evening, two teenagers were rescued from Slieve Donard in County Down after becoming stranded in worsening weather conditions. The 16-year-old boys had scaled the mountain earlier in the day when conditions were reasonable but found themselves unable to descend as the weather deteriorated. They were rescued by a 14-member team from Mourne Mountain Rescue, with officials urging caution for anyone considering scaling mountains in such conditions.
Rural communities have voiced frustration, particularly farmers who have been affected by power outages. Clogher Valley Councillor Mark Robinson highlighted the difficulties faced by rural areas, calling for more attention to be paid to resolving issues in these regions.
Rail services are gradually reopening following extensive damage to the network. Translink has reported that the Belfast routes to Portadown and Bangor, along with the Larne and Londonderry lines, have reopened, although the Portrush line remains closed. Speed restrictions are in place for some trains, and Translink advises passengers to allow extra time for their journeys.
Metro, Glider, and Ulsterbus services resumed on Friday, with some diversions in place due to ongoing road closures and clearance work following the storm.