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The Sweepstakes residential area in Ballsbridge, Dublin. Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland
Floods
Fire at D4 gated community stops flood victims from returning home
Some residents of The Sweepstakes in Ballsbridge have been waiting over a week to move back into their flood-damaged homes.
A FIRE HAS prevented some residents of an exclusive Dublin gated community from moving back into their flood-damaged homes – over a week after major floods forced them out.
The blaze broke out this afternoon in The Sweepstakes in Ballsbridge, where repairs were underway to restore electricity and water to the complex. Some residences there had been flooded when the River Dodder burst its banks during the torrential rains last Monday.
A number of fire tenders were called to the scene. There were no reports of any injuries.
Residents of the 246-unit complex have been forced to stay in temporary accommodation while the flood damage is repaired.
Some have already begun to move back into the Dublin 4 apartment and housing block, while others are still waiting for electricity and water to be switched back on.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, a spokesperson for Wyse, the managing agents for The Sweepstakes said: “Anyone who was due to have their electricity reconnected today now will not have that happen”.
It is not yet known when the remaining residents will be able to move back into their homes.
One resident of The Sweepstakes, speaking to TheJournal.ie, described the area as being like a ‘warzone’.
“In Ballsbridge, everything looks normal and untouched by the floods, until you turn down the road (into the complex). It’s like a warzone. The whole place is covered with a layer of mud – you can smell it immediately.”
Have you been unable to move back to your home since last week’s floods? Contact us in the comments section below or email us at news[at]thejournal.ie
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