Published: Thursday, 19th November, 2009 9:00am

Week-end flood alert as lake levels rise

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With Fermanagh having already experienced 31 successive days of rain and the forecast expecting 40 to 60 millimetres of rainfall this weekend, the county is on the alert to further flooding. Yesterday, Wednesday, flooding had occurred on up to a dozen local roads.

In the Boho area, where the Sillees river has spilled out over many roads, a number is passable only by agricultural vehicles. Affected roads include C444 Lisdead Rd, U8209 Samsonagh Rd, U8520 Crott Rd, U8530 Drumanure Rd, and U9508 Carrickbeg Rd.

In the Lisnaskea area, flooding has occurred on U9378 Rossmacole, U8445 Kinmore, U9416 Drumcon Road and U9378 Rossmacaffry and in the Churchhill area at C446 Glenashevar Rd at Beagh. The U9351 Rossigh Road in the Kesh area also experienced flooding.

And with heavy rain forecast over the next two days it is expected that water levels will continue to rise and other roads will be affected, for example Erneside Roundabout and Derrychara Link.

It is expected that there will be heavy demand on emergency services and the public are asked to be patient as resources to provide help are limited.

A spokesman for Roads Service asked roads users to drive with care as standing water may also be a problem and floods may not be signed.

A DARD Rivers Agency spokesperson said that "due to the persistent rainfall over the past few weeks, water levels in

both upper and lower Lough Erne have risen and are now near the prescribed upper limits".

The statement continued: "Over this period Rivers Agency officials have been working closely with

Electricity Supply Board in Ballyshannon to release the water in the Lough Erne System as much as possible to reduce the risk of flooding".

DARD Rivers Agency officials are continuing discussions with DRD Roads Service and the Western Group Emergency Planning Coordinator in readiness for possible flooding over the next few days.

Anyone requiring assistance should contact the flooding Incident Line at 0300 2000 100.