Over 140,000 customers in Ireland are currently without electricity, while 16,000 remain without water following the impact of Storm Éowyn. The storm, which produced record-breaking wind gusts of 183 km/h, initially left 768,000 customers without power.
The ESB Networks has cautioned the public against approaching fallen power lines, reporting several dangerous incidents. Restoration efforts have seen power restored to 80% of affected customers, primarily in the west and northwest, with an additional 37,000 in Northern Ireland still without service.
Repair crews from Austria, Finland, and the UK are collaborating with local teams to restore electricity. The ESB announced plans to replace 3,000 electricity poles and lay 900 km of new cable nationwide.
Margaret Attridge, head of water operations at Irish Water, noted that the number of people without water has decreased from 200,000 to 16,000, with generators currently supplying water to another 120,000. Temporary water supplies are being provided to vulnerable populations.
Irish Water is also coordinating with emergency groups established by local authorities to assist communities. Although backup generators are available at major treatment plants serving 2.5 million people, not all facilities are equipped with them, prompting calls for improved resilience measures.