Severe Flooding Hits Irish Coastal Towns After Powerful Storm Surges Breach Defenses, Residents Stranded And Hurt

Galway, Ireland— A combination of high spring tides and Atlantic storm surge sent seawater crashing through coastal defenses in western Ireland early Friday, flooding dozens of homes and cutting off roads. The National Emergency Coordination Group said 60 properties were inundated from Galway to Clare. Several residents were stranded and two injured while fleeing.

The surge hit at 5:15 a.m., coinciding with a 5.2-meter high tide. Met Eireann had issued an orange warning for coastal flooding but upgraded it to red at 4 a.m. when wind gusts hit 130 km/h off the Aran Islands. Water overtopped the promenade in Salthill, pushing cars sideways and filling ground-floor apartments to knee height within minutes.

"We woke to water under the bed, the sea was in the living room," a Salthill resident said. He said he carried his elderly mother upstairs as water rose through plug sockets. Fire crews used inflatable boats to pull people from houses on Grattan Road. One woman broke her ankle after slipping on a submerged step. Another man was treated for hypothermia.

Galway City Council closed the coastal road from Blackrock to Oranmore. The council's flood team placed sandbags but said the volume overwhelmed temporary barriers. ESB Networks cut power to 800 homes for safety. In Kinvara, the harbour wall collapsed, sending masonry into fishing boats. No boats were reported sunk, but several were damaged.

The Coast Guard helicopter based in Shannon rescued three people trapped in a car near Lahinch that was caught by a wave while crossing a causeway. The driver said water rose to the windows in seconds. All three were winched out and flown to University Hospital Limerick for observation. Their car was later washed into a field.

Met Eireann said a deep low-pressure system stalled west of Donegal, driving a long-period swell into the coast. Tide gauges at Galway Port recorded the highest surge since 2018. The OPW said its flood forecasting system predicted overtopping but not the scale. Engineers will inspect sea walls in Galway and Kilkee today for structural cracks.

Local authorities opened rest centers in Galway Leisureland and Ennis Community Centre. About 40 people stayed overnight. Insurers set up emergency lines. The Irish Red Cross distributed food and blankets. The Department of Social Protection said emergency payments are available for flood-damaged homes. Clean-up crews were clearing seaweed and debris at low tide.

More high tides are forecast for tonight and tomorrow morning. Met Eireann has kept an orange warning in place until Saturday midday. Residents in low-lying coastal areas have been told to move valuables upstairs and prepare to evacuate. The full cost of damage remains unclear while water levels stay high.