City area flooded in ‘halfhour of torrential rain’

Keri Shanks, who lives in the Magheralave Road area of the city, said that the water just kept rising as more rain fell.

Keri commented: “It started at teatime on Monday, around 6pm. It only took about half and hour, but it was half an hour of torrential rain.”

Keri’s entire garden and driveway were flooded, whilst sewage rose from drains to lie in her driveway.

“I was at home with my three children and was waiting for my husband to come home,” Keri said. “We have had water lying in the driveway before, but we recently had a new drain put in our front drive costing £100, so I thought the water wouldn’t rise, but it just rose and rose. I called my husband at work in Belfast to tell him and he said ‘what are you talking about, it’s sunny here.’

“When it rains the water all comes down the hill like a river, the drainage system is old and can’t cope. There does need to be work done to fix it.”

With more rain forecast, Keri is concerned about yet more flooding.

“Tomorrow is forecast for torrential rain. The rainwater from Monday has drained into ground, but it’s like a sponge, it’s so wet. I’m not sure what will happen if more rain arrives.”