Torrential Rain Leaves City Flooded

A clean-up operation has begun in Dublin after three weeks of rain fell in two hours, causing flash floods.

Severe thunderstorms swept across the region, bringing torrential rain and leaving dozens of homes and roads flooded.

Commuters were left stranded and residents at a block of flats were evacuated as the once-in-55-years downpour swamped the capital.

Forecasters at Met Eireann said: "It was extremely rare to get that type of weather. It would happen in the summer but it`s still extremely rare.

"But a repeat of something as intense as that is extremely unlikely in the next couple of days."

Emergency workers were sent out on to the streets to tackle flooding after a weather warning was issued for Dublin.

Up to 38mm of rain fell at Dublin Airport during the storm, close to the 50mm average for the whole of July.

Major roads such as the M1 at the Port Tunnel were left flooded, turning rush hour into chaos as motorists were left stranded.