A tragic incident occurred on Friday morning in Raphoe, County Donegal, when a tree fell onto a car on the N14, resulting in the death of 20-year-old Kacper Dudek. The accident took place north of Lifford, near Ballinalecky Cross, as severe weather caused by Storm Éowyn wreaked havoc across the Republic of Ireland.
Dudek, the lone occupant of the car, was tragically killed after the tree, brought down by the storm’s violent winds, struck his vehicle. Emergency services responded quickly to the scene, but the young man was pronounced dead. Garda forensic collision investigators have since arrived to conduct a full examination of the area. As a result, the N14 remains closed, and local diversions are in place while authorities continue their investigation.
The storm, which intensified over the preceding days, has caused widespread disruption across Ireland, particularly in Donegal, where severe weather continues to impact the region. As of 12:15 pm on Saturday, approximately 460,000 customers across the Republic of Ireland were still without power, down from a peak of 768,000 earlier in the day. The power outages, alongside water supply disruptions, have made daily life incredibly challenging for residents in affected areas.
Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Simon Harris confirmed that the Irish Defence Forces are providing helicopters to assist ESB Networks in restoring power to the worst-hit areas. Meanwhile, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin described the destruction caused by the storm’s extreme winds, noting that some of the winds recorded were among the strongest in history, with gusts reaching speeds of 183 km/h (114 mph). These winds have been described as the fastest since records began, with Irish forecaster Met Éireann warning of further hazards.
In addition to power outages, the storm has caused significant damage to infrastructure, and water supplies are also at risk. Uisce Éireann, the Irish water utility, reported that over 120,000 people were without water, and another 400,000 are at risk of losing their supply. Local authorities are working tirelessly to address the ongoing disruptions.
As Storm Éowyn moves on, the region continues to grapple with its aftereffects. A fresh yellow snow and ice warning has been issued for counties Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, and Sligo, expected to last until Sunday morning. The situation remains dire as communities affected by the storm await continued efforts to restore power and essential services.
This tragic loss of life serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of extreme weather, particularly when it strikes with the force and unpredictability seen in Storm Éowyn.
