Watch: Extent of flooding in Magherafelt revealed

The Sandy Braes estate was hardest hit with several residents having their homes flooded.

The Fire and Rescue Service helped a woman from her car and another woman from her house during the height of the flooding.

One householder told the Mail that it was “like something out of a film”, it happened so quickly.

“The place is an absolute mess with raw sewage in the streets,” she said. “It’s going to take some time to clean up.”

Several businesses also suffered damage in the thunderstorm which took most by surprise despite the weather warnings.

Motorists using the Rainey Street car park were also trapped for a time after the park flooded.

SDLP Councillor Jim Campbell said the town and surrounding area was hit by the deluge of “apocalyptic proportions”.

He said part of the problem was that the water had nowhere to go as the town is surrounded by small rivers whose flood plains have been built on.

It’s believed that the roof of the courthouse collapsed forcing its closure.

Stormont have made £1,000 available to those who suffered flooding.

The misery continued on Wednesday, with power cuts reported in Magherafelt and Moneymore.