Updated 1.20pm

ESB NETWORKS HAS confirmed that 16,000 customers are still without power because of Storm Rachel’s ferocious winds.

10,000 households are affected by a single fault in Donegal, according to the latest update.

“Crews are working on this fault and repairs are underway, we expect restoration of supply of that fault in late afternoon,” a statement said.

There are also a large number of new localised outages in the North West region, in Cavan, Ballina, Letterkenny, and Crossmolina.

Smaller numbers of customers are without supply across the west coast, in Clifden, Screeb and in Wexford.

Winds in the north west are still gusting up to 130km per hour “so more faults may occur until these wind levels abate later this evening” according to the statement.

Customers in affected areas are being reminded to never approach broken or fallen cables.

• Customers without power can check for updates on when their fault is expected to be repaired at: www.esbpowercheck.ie, via Twitter at @ESBNetworks or by phoning 1850 372 999. 

Meanwhile, there are around 10,000 Eircom customers without fixed line phone and broadband services as a result of the storm.

Around 45 mobile sites are off-air in Donegal, Mayo, Sligo and Galway, due to power outages or antennae misalignment.

According to Eircom:

“In addition to using secondary power supplies such as generators and back up battery systems, we are co-ordinating closely with the ESB to ensure that in cases where power supply is impacting service, telecommunications services can be restored as quickly as possible.

 Customers should log faults on the “Log a Fault” section of our website (www.eircom.net) or through our automated customer service line 1901.

In the midst of the storm, the very helpful people behind the ESB Networks Twitter account still have the will to make a joke or two.

Nice analogy.

First published 6.58am. With reporting by Daragh Brophy.

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