Storm Babet Causes Major Flooding Chaos and Poses Risk to Life
The Environment Agency has issued a warning that the widespread flooding caused by Storm Babet could continue until Tuesday. The storm has already claimed three lives since it hit the UK on Wednesday, and there are reports of a man trapped in floodwater in Aberdeenshire.
The flooding has resulted in travel chaos across the country’s rail networks, with train operators advising people not to travel on Saturday. The Environment Agency has identified three severe flood warnings around the River Derwent in Derbyshire, indicating a significant risk of death or serious injury, as well as severe disruption to local communities.
The city council of Derby has reported record-breaking water levels in the River Derwent and anticipates several days of cleanup after the floods recede. Katharine Smith, the flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, has alerted residents of the East Midlands and South Yorkshire to be prepared for severe river flooding impacts over the weekend and into Sunday. She also stated that ongoing flooding is likely on larger rivers such as the Severn, Ouse, and Trent until Tuesday.
In response to the storm, the Environment Agency has issued over 300 flood warnings across England since Thursday, with Yorkshire and the East and West Midlands experiencing the highest numbers of warnings. As of Saturday afternoon, 275 warnings remained in effect, and the agency has received reports of 237 flooded properties, with an additional 20,000 properties protected by defense systems.
Scotland has also been severely affected by the storm, with a red weather warning, indicating a danger to life, in place for parts of Angus and Aberdeenshire. However, the warning was downgraded on Saturday afternoon as rainfall in eastern Scotland decreased.
Similarly, in Wales, a severe flood warning has been issued for the village of Llandrinio, Powys, and isolated properties in the Severn-Vyrnwy confluence area. Power cuts have impacted approximately 100,000 customers due to Storm Babet, but by Saturday morning, 96% had been reconnected, leaving 4,000 still without power.
Tragically, three fatalities have been reported so far. A man in his 60s lost his life after being caught in fast-flowing floodwater in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire. In Angus, a falling tree struck a van, resulting in the death of a 56-year-old driver. Additionally, a 57-year-old woman was swept into a river in the region and died.
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