2 killed, thousands without power as freak storm hits Ireland

Graphic showing the path of hurricane Ophelia, which strengthened to a Category 3 storm as it passed near the Portuguese Azores archipelago en route for Ireland. AFP/Sophie RAMIS

Dublin Airport scrapped 135 flights; Cork Airport cancelled most flights in what it said was the worst storm seen in its 56-year history, while several services to and from Shannon, the third-biggest airport, were also grounded.

Most of those 120,000 customers without electricity would be without power overnight, the Electricity Supply Board said.

PM SAYS STAY INDOORS

"Stay indoors wherever you are until the storm has passed," Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told reporters.

"I don't want anyone to think that this is anything other than a national emergency and a red alert.

"Even after the storm has passed there will still be dangers. There will be trees on the ground and power lines down."

The education ministry said "all schools, colleges and other education institutions" were closed on Monday, after official advice on the "unprecedented storm".

Government offices were also closed.

The military has been deployed to areas forecast to be worst affected and are on standby.

Ireland's top football team Cork City were hit when their stadium roof collapsed.

The eye of the storm is forecast to track across Northern Ireland and then Scotland.

Though it will weaken as it goes, gusts are expected to reach 129kph in the UK.

Britain's Met Office issued amber warnings for Northern Ireland, Wales, and southern Scotland.

"There is a good chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage," the UK national weather service said, warning of transport disruption.

"Flying debris is likely, such as tiles blown from roofs, as well as large waves around coastal districts.

"This leads to the potential for injuries and danger to life."

The storm came 30 years to the day of the Great Storm, which ravaged southern England in the early hours of October 16, 1987, leaving 18 people dead.

HURRICANE SEASON

Ophelia is the 15th named storm of the 2017 Atlantic season, which is expected to last until the end of November.

Three major hurricanes - Harvey, Irma and Maria - caused catastrophic damage in the Caribbean and the US Gulf Coast.

Ophelia was classed Category 3 on Saturday as it passed near Portugal's Azores islands, which means it packed winds of at least 178kph.

Though seven of the nine islands in the Azores were on high alert, the storm did not cause major damage.

In Spain, three people have died in wildfires whipped by strong wind gusts spawned by Hurricane Ophelia.

Six people have also died in wildfires in Portugal, which local authorities said had been exacerbated by drought.