GARDAI and fire brigade units are attending Cork railway station after part of an old roof canopy collapsed in gale force winds.
Emergency services raced to the scene after material was ripped from the sub roof by the gales with debris falling around Kent Station as passengers and staff looked on in horror as weather chaos continues.
The canopy damage was confined to an area around one platform.
Initial reports had people trapped under debris – but this turned out to be not the case.
Kent Station is now closed and an investigation by the Health & Safety Authority is now underway.
The area affected is on the eastern side of the railway station, platforms 1 and 2, which affect the Cobh and Midleton lines.
It’s understood a train had just left the station seconds before the canope collapsed.
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The falling debris primarily fell on an out of service train which was parked nearby.
Significant damage was caused to a number of carriages.
A number of Health Service Executive (HSE) ambulance attended the scene but initial reports indicated that no-one suffered serious injuries.
It is understood three people were treated at the scene but only for minor injuries and shock.
One bystander said it was "an absolute miracle" that no-one was seriously injured such was the force of the roof collapse.
Fire brigade officials, assisted by Gardai and Iarnrod Eireann staff, conducted a detailed search of the area to ensure no-one was trapped by the falling debris.
The roof involved is understood to be part of the station's original Victorian era construction.
The station will now remain closed pending a full safety inspection of the damaged roof area.
Passengers will be accommodated by bus transfers.
All Dublin trains bound for Cork will stop at Mallow with bus transfers into Cork city.
Both the Mallow and Cobh suburban services will also be impacted.
Pedestrians have been urged to avoid the area due to the high winds and the risk of material being ripped from nearby roof tops.
Motorists have also been warned to avoid the Lower Glanmire Road area of Cork while the incident is being investigated.
The main northern exit route from Cork is now down to single lane traffic.
Widespread flooding was reported around Cork due to torrential rainfall since 2pm with roads closed in Ballincollig, Cork city, Mallow and Clonakilty.
Motorists were urged to exercise extreme caution on the Cork-Limerick border due to high winds and fallen trees.
The Mitchelstown-Galbally road was partially blocked by a fallen tree.
Meanwhile, ESB are reporting that 15,000 households around the country have been affected by power outages in the mid-west, south and midlands of the country.
Crews are currently working to restore power.
SOURCE-Irish Independent
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