Dramatic pictures show Glens of Antrim landslide which closed road after torrential rain

After several days of heavy rain a number of landslides have been reported in the Glens of Antrim.
The landslide near Cushendall. Pic Steven McAuley/McAuley MultimediaThe landslide near Cushendall. Pic Steven McAuley/McAuley Multimedia
The landslide near Cushendall. Pic Steven McAuley/McAuley Multimedia

The one pictured here at Glenann near Cushendall, blocked the Orra Mountain road for a period on Thursday morning.

The A2 Coast Road was closed earlier in the week due to further landslides.

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It follows several days of disruption across many parts of Northern Ireland caused by rain.

The landslide closed the road for a time. Pic Steven McAuley/McAuley MultimediaThe landslide closed the road for a time. Pic Steven McAuley/McAuley Multimedia
The landslide closed the road for a time. Pic Steven McAuley/McAuley Multimedia

Flash floods, fallen trees and landslides had to be dealt with by the emergency services.

Police were notified of a woman trapped in a car on the Knockbracken Road area of south Belfast on Wednesday just after 6.30am. The vehicle had broken down due to flooding on the road. Police and firefighters pulled the vehicle out of the water.

First thing yesterday the PSNI urged people to be careful on the roads as heavy rain overnight left lots of surface water.

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Flooding along Belfast’s Westlink, and in Dundonald, Newtownards, Bangor and Glassdrumman all caused delays.

The Coast Road between Branch Road and Upper Waterloo near Larne was closed because of a landslide, while a fallen tree along the Tullyronan Road in Dungannon partially obstructed the route.

The Kirkwood Road in Lisburn was closed in both directions and the Movilla Road in Newtownards was also closed in both directions.

A Met Office yellow warning for rain stated that flooding could continue from Wednesday into Thursday midnight.

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The Met Office warned that homes and businesses could be flooded. Snowfall is also likely to affect areas above 300 metres.

The warning is for counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Londonderry and Tyrone.

A spokesman for the Department of Infrastructure said last night that there were no reports of any flooded homes but as more heavy rainfall is forecast, homeowners in known flood risk areas should remain remain vigilant and report any flooding incidents to the flooding incident line on 0300 2000 100.

He said that ongoing flooding incidents included the Movilla Road at Newtownards, the Ballymaconaghy and Knockbracken Road at Castlereagh and the A2 Coast Road at Larne, due to a landslide between Branch road and Upper Waterloo Road.

All three routes remained closed last night while authorities responded.

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