Actions

At Least 3 Dead As Ex-Hurricane Ophelia Slams Into Ireland

Ophelia's strong winds and heavy rain damaged buildings, uprooted trees and knocked out power for more than 350,000 residents.

By: Briana Koeneman

Posted at 2:51 PM, Oct 16, 2017

and last updated 2017-10-16 14:51:09-04

At least three people are dead after the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia slammed into Ireland's west coast Monday.

Ireland's national police told reporters two people died when trees fell on top of their vehicles. Another person was fatally injured with a chainsaw while trying to remove a tree that fell during the storm.

Ophelia's strong winds and heavy rain damaged buildings, uprooted trees and knocked out power for more than 350,000 residents.

Met Éireann, Ireland's national weather service, issued a red alert for the entire country through Monday night, warning that there is a "danger to life and property."

Officials say Ophelia could be one of the strongest storms to hit Ireland since Hurricane Debbie in 1961 — the only storm to ever make landfall in Ireland at hurricane strength. Ophelia is also expected to affect parts of the U.K. on Monday.