HEAVY rain led to widespread flooding in the island today (Saturday).
Police were urging people not to travel if they could avoid it.
However, the sitution is this afternoon getting a lot better.
There are now very few reports of new problems now that the rain has eased.
The following roads are now clear:
Sunny Orchid (Fairy Bridge to Blackboards).
Peel to Douglas main road (Railway Inn area of Union Mills).
South Quay, Kewaigue Hill.
The following roads are damaged but passable:
There has been a small land slip at Port Soldrick but the road remains open with care.
There is damage to the road under the old railway bridge at Port Soldrick but can be passed with care.
Some damage to the Glen Road (Colby) near the turning to Ballachrink Farm
The following roads remain closed:
Glen Darragh
Ballacottier roundabout
Knockeview
The fire and rescue service says that anyone who needs sand bags should go to any of the island’s amenity sites or the Department of Infrastructure at Ellerslie.
Lake Road, leading to Tesco in Douglas, was described by police as ‘impassable’ at lunchtime.
The supermarket remained open with staff diverting traffic.
A reader, Mr S Elkins, sent us this picture of the car park.
The south of the island was the most badly affected by floods, although there were problems in Douglas and Baldrine too.
The Steam Railway, brought back into action because of today’s bus strike, has been closed because it is now impassable in many places.
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/steam-railway-shut-for-rest-of-the-day-1-5250901|Click here for more on the trains, MER and buses}
Emergency services and the Department of Infrastructure were at full stretch dealing with a number of problems earlier today.
Motorists were being advised to drive south via the Ballamodha Straight after problems at Richmond Hill.
Some motorists had to be rescued from cars which have broken down as they’ve been driven through flood water.
The fire and rescue service is advising people to stay away from glens and rivers.
The river at Ballasalla has burst its banks.
Kentraugh Road in Port St Mary was shut after the river burst its banks. However, the flooding there has now subsided and the road has now been re-opened.
The Mountain Road was shut between the Bungalow and the Creg-ny-Baa for some time this morning after an accident. It has now re-opened.
Have you taken any photos of flooding?
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The island’s sports fixtures have been severely affected. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/sport/football-news/all-manx-football-matches-called-off-1-5248045|See our sports section.}