World News

Power Cuts, Train Cancellations As Storm Darragh Batters UK

 

Tens of thousands of people across the UK were left without power on Saturday morning after Storm Darragh hit the country with strong winds and caused pre-Christmas travel disruption.

The UK’s Met Office had issued a rare red alert for high winds overnight to Saturday morning (0300 to 1100 GMT) covering parts of Wales and southwest England.

The government warned three million people living in the area with a siren-like alert on their phones to stay at home on Friday night.

 

Waves crash against the sea wall and lighthouse at Porthcawl, south Wales, on December 7, 2024, as storm darragh brings winds of nearly 90 mph to the west of Wales and north-west England. – High winds and heavy rain have battered western parts of the United Kingdom, causing widespread travel disruption. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the storm posed a “challenging situation”.

“About three million homes will have had the emergency alert system to their mobile phone. I would just encourage anyone who has had that to follow the advice,” Reynolds told Sky News on Saturday.

Darragh, the fourth named storm of the season, is also expected to bring heavy rain through the weekend, with more than 100 flood warnings and alerts in place across the UK.

 

A surfer rides a wave at Porthcawl, south Wales, on December 7, 2024, as storm darragh brings winds of nearly 90 mph to the west of Wales and north-west England. – High winds and heavy rain have battered western parts of the United Kingdom, causing widespread travel disruption. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)

In Wales, the Met Office estimated gusts of up to 150 kmph (93 mph), which knocked out power for over 50,000 people, according to the PA news agency.

Power cuts affected 86,000 homes in England, Scotland and Wales, according to the Energy Networks Association.

Network Rail Wales suspended trains on the Welsh northern coast due to a “fallen tree blocking the line”, and several bridges in southern England and Wales were closed for safety reasons.

A separate amber warning, which is less serious than the red alert but still poses “potential risk to life and property”, covering a larger stretch of the UK and Northern Ireland is in place until Saturday night.

 

A dog-walker passes the ground as news of the postponement of the English Premier League football match between Everton and Liverpool spreads, outside Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on December 7, 2024. – Premier League leaders Liverpool’s Merseyside derby trip to Everton on Saturday was postponed due to adverse weather conditions caused by Storm Darragh. High winds and heavy rain have battered western parts of the United Kingdom, causing widespread travel disruption. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

READ ALSO: Prince William To Meet With Trump In Paris

In Northern Ireland, thousands were left without power, and several bus and train services were suspended or delayed.

Christmas markets and sporting events were postponed, including the Merseyside derby between Premier League leaders Liverpool and Everton.

 

Street scenes around the ground as news of the postponement of the English Premier League football match between Everton and Liverpool spreads, outside Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on December 7, 2024. – Premier League leaders Liverpool’s Merseyside derby trip to Everton on Saturday was postponed due to adverse weather conditions caused by Storm Darragh. High winds and heavy rain have battered western parts of the United Kingdom, causing widespread travel disruption. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

In Ireland, which issued an “orange” wind warning, 400,000 people were left without electricity, according to the RTE news agency.

Dublin Airport said a “a number of flights scheduled for Saturday morning have been cancelled by airlines” due to the storm.

Darragh comes two weeks after Storm Bert battered much of Britain, causing “devastating” flooding in parts of Wales and knocking out power to thousands of homes in Ireland.

 

AFP

Opeoluwani Akintayo

Disqus Comments Loading...

Recent Posts

Are Chelsea The Real Deal? Three Talking Points From The EPL

Enzo Maresca has shaped a big Chelsea squad into an effective fighting force just months…

11 mins ago

Edo 2024 Gov Poll Petition: Tribunal Holds Inaugural Sitting, Pre-Hearing Session Today

As of this morning, there are seven petitions before the tribunal, one from the People's…

20 mins ago

2024 ‘Certain’ To Be Hottest Year On Record, Says EU Monitor

The new benchmark affirmed by the Copernicus Climate Change Service caps a year in which…

27 mins ago

PSG Up Against It In Champions League as Qatari Project Risks Drifting

The top 24 teams at the end of the league phase go on to the…

42 mins ago

Syrians Flock To Celebrate New Day After Assad’s Fall

Assad fled to Russia on Sunday after a lightning offensive spearheaded by Islamist rebels ousted…

44 mins ago

South Korean President Banned From Leaving Country

The Ministry of Justice confirmed on Monday that Yoon had become the first sitting South…

55 mins ago