Storm Boelo: NIE engineers working to restore power to remaining 1,000 customers without electricity following severe weather conditions
Around 1,000 properties are still without power after Storm Boelo battered parts of Northern Ireland overnight.
NIE Networks say it has restored electricity supply to approximately 11,500 customers with the hope that all will be restored by Sunday night (October 25).
The high winds brought by Storm Boelo caused damage to some parts of the electricity network with approximately 12,500 customers in total being affected by power outages across the province.
In an update on Sunday afternoon, Andrew Cupples, head of System Operations, for NIE Networks said: "Thanks to the efforts of our engineers, contracting partners and support staff, we have now been able to restore power to around 11,500 customers.
"With less than 1,000 properties still affected the hope is that our crews are able to restore power to all of those properties tonight, depending on the complexity of each repair.
"We would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding and to reassure those still without power that every effort is being made to restore supplies as soon as possible."
Customers can view the latest information, including estimated restoration times for their fault, through Powercheck on the NIE Networks website.
Earlier in the day around 7,000 customers remained without power. The power company stated: “NIE Networks’ Incident Centres, located across Northern Ireland with responsibility for coordinating our response, have been operational since yesterday afternoon.
"Our engineers and field teams were mobilised in advance of the storm and are continuing to respond across the network, working safely and efficiently to repair damage and restore supplies to affected.
"We would encourage any customers experiencing a power cut to report it online at www.nienetworks.co.uk or by contacting the NIE Networks Customer Helpline on 03457 643 643.
"We would also remind customers never to approach broken overhead power lines or damaged poles. Any damaged equipment should be treated as live. Please keep children and animals well away and report any damage to NIE Networks immediately on 03457 643 643.”
With reports of fallen trees impacting a number of routes on Sunday morning, police urged motorists to continue to exercise caution while driving.
"If travel is essential, leave extra time for your journey and increase your stopping distance from the car in front.”
Department for Infrastructure teams cleared fallen trees from the Ballyrobin Road, where both both lanes had been impassable just after the junction with Seven Mile Straight, Co Antrim; and on the Glenshane Road, around half a mile from Castledawson roundabout.
Road users were also advised that fallen trees were impacting the Springwell Road, Groomsport and the Cootehall Road, Crawfordsburn.
Meanwhile, on Sunday morning both Belfast International Airport and Belfast City Airport were advising passengers to check with their airlines for latest flight information as there may be disruption due the storm.