This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-21892567
The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 18 | Version 19 |
|---|---|
| NIE confirm network fault caused Belfast blackout | NIE confirm network fault caused Belfast blackout |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A network fault meant 200,000 homes in Belfast were without power for a time on Friday evening. | A network fault meant 200,000 homes in Belfast were without power for a time on Friday evening. |
| Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) said the blackout was caused by an issue with the high voltage transmission network. | Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) said the blackout was caused by an issue with the high voltage transmission network. |
| Power said power had now been returned to many parts of Belfast. | Power said power had now been returned to many parts of Belfast. |
| NIE is still working to restore power to 40,000 customers in Northern Ireland who had lost supply as a result of the bad weather. | |
| Most of the properties affected outside Belfast are in Counties Down, Armagh, and Antrim. | Most of the properties affected outside Belfast are in Counties Down, Armagh, and Antrim. |
| NIE said it had restored power to 100,000 customers in Northern Ireland following the overnight snow storm. | |
| More than 70 schools were closed on Friday. | More than 70 schools were closed on Friday. |
| Roads are closed and airports have been affected. | |
| Police are advising motorists not to travel on roads affected by snow unless absolutely necessary. | |
| George Best Belfast City Airport had to close twice to allow for snow clearing and de-icing. | |
| 'Damage' | 'Damage' |
| Julia Carson, NIE communications manager, said: "The restoration process has been steady throughout the day and we are working to restore the customers as quickly and safely as possible. | Julia Carson, NIE communications manager, said: "The restoration process has been steady throughout the day and we are working to restore the customers as quickly and safely as possible. |
| "However, the atrocious weather conditions , including drifting snow, have made access very difficult and the high winds, combined with snow and icing, are still causing damage to the network. | "However, the atrocious weather conditions , including drifting snow, have made access very difficult and the high winds, combined with snow and icing, are still causing damage to the network. |
| "The severe weather is set to continue through tonight and into Saturday and we are likely to see further damage to the network which will affect electricity supplies." | "The severe weather is set to continue through tonight and into Saturday and we are likely to see further damage to the network which will affect electricity supplies." |
| NIE said customers may notice brief dips in their lights on a regular basis. | |
| "We would ask that customers do not phone in to report these dips and only contact us if their electricity is completely off," added Ms Carson. | "We would ask that customers do not phone in to report these dips and only contact us if their electricity is completely off," added Ms Carson. |
| NIE can be contacted on 08457 643 643. | NIE can be contacted on 08457 643 643. |
| Belfast Trust said six operations were cancelled on Friday. | Belfast Trust said six operations were cancelled on Friday. |
| It said it was cancelling all planned operations on Monday except for cancer or very urgent operations. | It said it was cancelling all planned operations on Monday except for cancer or very urgent operations. |
| The trust apologised but said the serious weather was placing extra pressures on hospital staff. | The trust apologised but said the serious weather was placing extra pressures on hospital staff. |
| Heavy snow | Heavy snow |
| The Roads Service said heavy snow accumulations have particularly affected the north east of Northern Ireland, with drifting of up to 40cms reported. | The Roads Service said heavy snow accumulations have particularly affected the north east of Northern Ireland, with drifting of up to 40cms reported. |
| "Most routes have been salted three times over night with snow ploughing necessary on many routes," they said. | "Most routes have been salted three times over night with snow ploughing necessary on many routes," they said. |
| The following roads are closed: Quarterlands Road, Dunmurry; Cochranstown Road, Belfast; Colinglen Road, Dunmurry; A27 Moyad Road, Spelga; B70 Ballymaconnely Road, Rasharkin; A2 Cushendall Road, Ballycastle; A44 Magheramore Road, Ballycastle; C507 Highmoor Road, Eglinton; U1101 Baloughry Hill Road, Killea; Ligoneil Road, Belfast; A52 Ballyutoag Road, Belfast; A2 Shore Road, Warrenpoint at Well Road junction; B7 Moyad Road; Portmore Road, Lisburn; Carricknadarriff Road, Lisburn; Tullyard Road, Drumbo; Whinney Hill, Holywood; C19 Crosskennan Road, Antrim; Coast Road, Ballywalter; Steeple Road, Antrim; C263 Belfast Road, Newtownards (Bradshaws Brae); A2 Springvale Road, Ballywalter; A22 Belfast Road, Comber; 27 Craigboy Road, Donaghadee; B8 Newry Road, Mayobridge closed at Derryleckagh Road; A36 Shaneshill Road from A8 to B94 at The Battery Inn; A2 Cushendall Road at Water Top Farm; A43 Glenariff Road from junction Ballyeamon Road to Waterfoot; B14 Ballyeamon Road at junction of Skerry Road; C27 Lylehill Road; B94 Rathkeel Road between A36 Shaneshill Rd and A42 Broughshane Road; Katesbridge Road, Kinallen; B7 Rathfriland Road, Dromara; Broad Road, Limavady; Rostrevor Road, Hilltown; Cushendall Road, Ballycastle. | |
| A full list of affected roads in each council area can be found on Trafficwatch NI. | A full list of affected roads in each council area can be found on Trafficwatch NI. |
| Motorists in Rostrevor and Warrenpoint are asked to take extra care due to flooding in the area. | Motorists in Rostrevor and Warrenpoint are asked to take extra care due to flooding in the area. |
| Caution | Caution |
| Police said it was causing traffic problems around Warrenpoint and Burren with long tailbacks on the A1 from Newry to Warrenpoint. | Police said it was causing traffic problems around Warrenpoint and Burren with long tailbacks on the A1 from Newry to Warrenpoint. |
| All other routes are passable but require caution. | All other routes are passable but require caution. |
| Due to the NIE power outages a number of traffic signals in Belfast are not working and motorists are asked to pass through these junctions with care. | Due to the NIE power outages a number of traffic signals in Belfast are not working and motorists are asked to pass through these junctions with care. |
| Belfast International Airport said three of its flights had so far been affected by the weather, including the United Airlines flight to Newark. | Belfast International Airport said three of its flights had so far been affected by the weather, including the United Airlines flight to Newark. |
| The airport said all passengers on that flight had been put up in a hotel overnight. | The airport said all passengers on that flight had been put up in a hotel overnight. |
| Belfast City Airport has advised passengers to check with the airline before travelling to the airport. | Belfast City Airport has advised passengers to check with the airline before travelling to the airport. |
| "These contact details can be found on the airport website," a spokeswoman said. | "These contact details can be found on the airport website," a spokeswoman said. |
| "The airport will be updating passengers throughout the day across social media pages on Facebook and Twitter." | "The airport will be updating passengers throughout the day across social media pages on Facebook and Twitter." |
| P&O Ferries said it is currently experiencing delays to all sailings between Larne and Cairnryan. | P&O Ferries said it is currently experiencing delays to all sailings between Larne and Cairnryan. |
| All passengers should check-in as normal as every effort will be made to return to schedule. | All passengers should check-in as normal as every effort will be made to return to schedule. |
| P&O said the A75 & A77 in Scotland have been closed, which may have an effect onward journeys. | P&O said the A75 & A77 in Scotland have been closed, which may have an effect onward journeys. |
| Passengers who may wish to rebook can do so by telephoning 0871 66 44 777. | Passengers who may wish to rebook can do so by telephoning 0871 66 44 777. |
| The weather has also led to the cancellation of the Larne | The weather has also led to the cancellation of the Larne |