Flooding chaos in west Belfast as streets left under water and manhole covers lifted

Residents in west Belfast have been urged to take care after significant flooding has affected several streets this evening.

There have also been reports of lifted manhole covers adding to safety concerns.

Areas impacted include parts of Blackmountain, Norglen Parade, Norfolk Road and Gransha Gardens, Monagh Road and the Whiterock Road, where surface water has built up following days of unsettled weather.

Local MLA Aisling Reilly shared photographs of some of the flooded regions, adding that the issues have been reported to Floodline, with some cases ongoing for several days.

The Sinn Fein representative also encouraged people to report any of their own concerns to Floodline at the NI Direct website which can be found here.

The flooding comes as Northern Ireland continues to experience changeable and wet conditions, with forecasters warning of further heavy rain.

According to the Met Office, "showers or longer spells of rain" are expected to spread across NI on Wednesday, with rainfall "heavy at times" through the evening and overnight.

The latest regional forecast also indicates a continued risk of showers in the coming days, with a mix of brighter spells and further rain expected into the weekend.

While no official weather warning is currently in force for Belfast, the ongoing wet conditions mean flooding remains a risk in low-lying or poorly drained areas.

Residents are being advised to avoid flooded routes where possible and remain cautious when travelling, particularly in areas where manholes may have been dislodged.