On January 26, 2025, Ireland faced significant challenges as repair crews worked to restore power to hundreds of thousands of residents following Storm Éowyn. The storm, which struck on January 24, left over 1 million people in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland without electricity, with Ireland experiencing the most severe damage.
- Ireland seeks help from England and France
- Over 1 million without power after Storm Éowyn
- Wind gusts reached 114 mph in Ireland
- Two fatalities reported due to fallen trees
- Storm Herminia brings more severe weather
- Major flooding reported in Brittany, France
As of Sunday, January 26, more than 300,000 properties in Ireland remained without power, down from 768,000 on Friday. The Irish military, along with technicians from England and France, are assisting in the recovery efforts.
Storm Éowyn has been described as one of the most disruptive storms in years. In Ireland, the storm caused extensive damage, including snapped telephone poles and a toppled wind turbine. A record wind gust of 114 mph (183 kph) was recorded on the west coast, surpassing a record set in 1945. The state electricity company, ESB Networks, reported that restoration efforts are ongoing, but full power restoration may take up to two weeks.
Additional details include:
- Over 75,000 people in Northern Ireland remain without power.
- At least two fatalities have been reported due to the storm.
- The Irish Minister for Social Protection stated that authorities are “throwing everything at it” to restore services.
As the cleanup continues, another storm, named Storm Herminia, is impacting the U.K. and Ireland. This new system has brought further rain and wind, with gusts reaching 82 mph (132 kph) in southwest England. France is also facing severe weather conditions, with warnings issued for regions experiencing flooding and evacuations.
In summary, Storm Éowyn has had a devastating impact on the region, with extensive power outages and damage reported. Recovery efforts are underway, but the situation remains critical as additional storms threaten to complicate these efforts.
The aftermath of Storm Éowyn highlights the challenges faced by emergency services and the importance of community support during such disasters. As recovery efforts progress, authorities remain focused on restoring essential services as quickly as possible.