Derry city centre is on flood alert this morning ahead of the 11.00am high tide.
Sandbags in place around BT House.
Members of the local Fire and Rescue Service placed sandbags at strategic locations close to the River Foyle yesterday afternoon.
However, local MLA Pat Ramsey said there was “absolutely no need for concern” as the move was “merely a pre-planned” precaution ahead of the high tide.
Sandbags have been placed in areas around Victoria car park including a multi-million pound pumping station constructed as part of the city’s flood defences.
Mr Ramsey added: “There is absolutely no need for any concern at this time, this is merely pre-planned precaution to the high tide.”
The move followed a Met Office warning of a “large swell” as a result of a deep depression in the Atlantic that had whipped up high waves out at sea.
A Met Office spokesperson said: “Exceptionally high waves are expected, and whilst tides are past their peak of last week, they will still be high, bringing a risk of coastal flooding”
The spokesperson added: “Strong winds will combine with large waves to bring the risk of coastal flooding. Winds will gust to 60 mph or so on coasts, and locally to 70 mph, but waves will be larger than usually associated with this strength. The public should be aware of the dangers of waves crashing onshore and over topping shore lines and sea fronts.”
Derry city centre has avoided serious flooding since August 2004 when city’s drainage scheme was unable to cope with a heavy downpour which resulted in many town centre streets and businesses left in two feet of water for several hours.
In Victoria Road and Foyle Road, which run adjacent to the River Foyle, cars were trapped by the rising water and 14 people were rescued from their vehicles near Prehen.
Following the flooding – described at the time as the worst in living memory – more than £28 million was spent on improving the city’s flood defences, including the provision of pumping stations at Duke Street, Waterside and Victoria Market.
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