Picture: Eamonn Keogh
Killarney continues to mop-up after the extensive damage and major disruption caused by the flash floods this afternoon, with one house damaged by an apparent lighting strike.
Flooding caused significant delays near the railway bridge on Park Road, at the junction between Countess Road and Countess Grove and on Muckross Road where one hotel suffered flood damage.
University Hospital Kerry, meanwhile, has issued a statement to express gratitude to the staff and emergency services involved when the facility was badly hit by the thunderstorms of Saturday afternoon.
While the initial flooding impacted the entrance area and main reception, it was swiftly cleared within a number of hours and no patients or staff members were directly affected. The cardiology department sustained water damage, including some equipment, and as a precautionary measure, cardiology outpatient appointments have been deferred until the damage can be fully assessed.
As of this Tuesday afternoon, cardiology diagnostics remain unavailable but the hospital is actively working on securing equipment on loan as an interim solution.
The hospital’s conference room, which serves as a vital hub for multidisciplinary team meetings, also suffered flood damage and is currently non-operational.
Visiting restrictions, initially imposed on Saturday afternoon, are gradually being lifted to allow normal visitation.
Hospital manager, Mary Fitzgerald, thanked the dedicated staff for their swift response and professionalism during this unprecedented event.
“Their quick actions significantly mitigated the impact of the damage,” she said.
She also commended the fire service and Civil Defence teams who were swiftly on site and most helpful in assisting with management of the unprecedented situation.
“UHK remains focused on ensuring the highest quality of care for patients and will continue working diligently to resolve the impact of the flooding incident. Further updates will be provided as the situation progresses,” a spokesperson said.
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