Dramatic footage shows the moment tourists were urgently evacuated from the Marble Arch Caves in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, as flash flooding turned stairways into waterfalls. The group of 17 visitors was halfway through the tour when heavy rain caused water to pour into the cave system, making the entrance impassable.
Kim Mahon Hay, who was visiting with her husband Alistair Hay, described the scene as 'something out of a Hollywood movie'. She told BBC Radio Ulster that staff acted quickly after receiving a radio message about torrential rain above, guiding the group through cascading water to safety. The power went out twice during the ordeal.
Staff were praised for keeping everyone calm and providing umbrellas, blankets, and dry clothes from the gift shop. The couple received refunds and free memorabilia. Ms Mahon Hay noted that guides said they had never seen such flooding in their 20 years of working there.
The incident comes as the Met Office issued thunderstorm warnings across much of England and Scotland, with up to 50mm of rain possible in an hour—about half a month's worth. The Environment Agency warned of travel disruption and urged motorists not to drive through floodwater.
Despite heavy rain, forecasters say it will do little to ease drought conditions, as the water runs off hard ground too quickly to replenish groundwater. Meanwhile, Southern Water became the third supplier to impose a hosepipe ban this summer, affecting Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
