Getty ImagesAbout 16,000 properties in Northern Ireland are still without power for a seventh day after Storm Éowyn on Friday.
Meanwhile, a “vital” generator and trailer has been stolen from NI Water from a site near Omagh, NI Water has said.
The storm had also affected water supplies in some parts of Northern Ireland. NI Water said the stolen equipment is needed to pump water to over 300 properties.
It said water supplies to those properties are “now at risk” because of “selfish acts of a few individuals who are taking advantage of the situation we are currently in following Storm Éowyn”.
“It is shocking that while our teams are out night and day working to restore water supplies to customers, others are taking advantage of the situation by stealing essential equipment,” NI Water said.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said they received a report about the theft from the Erganagh Road in Omagh, County Tyrone, on Wednesday.
The FG Wilson 30KVA generator and 12″ x 6″ Ifor Williams trailer were reported to have been taken from a reservoir in the area.
The police said it happened sometime between 21:30 GMT on Tuesday and 01:00 on Wednesday morning.
‘Very difficult’
Getty ImagesA farmer from Northern Ireland has had no other power other than a torch to help with lambing on his farm after he lost electricity almost a week ago.
Thomas Bigby, a farmer in Keady, County Armagh, has been without power since Storm Éowyn on Friday.
Mr Bigby described it as “very difficult”, but said: “You just have to get on with it.”
‘Awful mess’
Speaking on BBC’s Good Morning Ulster, Mr Bigby described being a farmer without heat and power as “frustrating”.
He said he has been using straw to keep the sheep warm and plans to move them into a “little pen” because “there’s a lot of frost this morning”.
He says he has been on the phone to Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIE) and says: “They seem to be trying but it must be an awful mess.”
“Normal life grounds to a halt,” he said.
But added: “We just have to get on with it.”
Mr Bigby’s parents, who are in their 90s, live nearby and are also without power.
Specialist engineers have arrived from across the UK to help restore power, but NIE has warned it could be Monday, 3 February, before all properties are reconnected.
At its peak 30% of all premises in Northern Ireland had their power disconnected.
Northern Ireland has seen the highest gust in 27 years.
In the Republic of Ireland, there are 108,000 customers still without power, down from a peak of 768,000.
A man died after a tree fell on the car he was driving in Raphoe, County Donegal, on Friday.
Emergency contacts
NIE has said there are 11 Community Assistance Centres, external and more than 60 drop-in centres open until 19:00 GMT to help those without power.
Facilities offered range from showers, food, hot drinks, and work-from-home hubs. NIE Networks reps are available for support.
To report faults or emergencies you should contact:
Northern Ireland Housing Executive: 03448 920 901
Openreach Damages to Network: 08000 23 20 23 (Individual faults must be logged with Communications Providers)
Gas networks: 0800 002001
NI Water: 03457 44 00 88 or visit niwater.com
Flooding Incident Line: 0300 2000 100
NIE Networks: 03457 643 643 or visit nienetworks.co.uk
