Top Stories
Storm Bert disrupts travel and cuts power across UK and Ireland
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
By Muvija M
LONDON/DUBLIN (Reuters) -Storm Bert battered Britain with snow, rain and strong winds on Saturday, killing one person and closing several railway lines, bridges and roads.
The storm also hit Ireland, flooding roads in the west and cutting power to tens of thousands of customers.
A man in his 60s died after a tree fell on a car on the A34 highway in southern England, local police said.
The runway at the Newcastle airport in northeast England was covered in snow, briefly disrupting flights.
In Scotland, some train services were suspended due to the weather, ScotRail said on X. The Severn Bridge, which connects Wales to England, was shut due to strong winds, the National Highways website showed.
Snow covered roads and stranded cars in parts of the northern UK.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly termed the storm a “multi-hazard event”, saying it was expected to bring snow, rain and wind to Britain for most of the weekend.
In Ireland, the heavy rain led to flooding in parts of the west coast, making some roads impassable. The Irish Meteorological Service placed a “status red” rain warning – its highest level – for the counties of Cork and Galway from Friday night.
Floodwater could be seen rising towards the top of parked cars in the Donegal town of Killybegs.
Power company ESB Networks, which provides energy for the whole of Ireland, said high winds had led to power outages affecting 60,000 homes, farms and businesses overnight, mostly in the west and northwest.
(Reporting by Muvija M in London and Padraic Halpin in Dublin; Editing by David Holmes and Frances Kerry)
A natural disaster is a catastrophic event caused by natural processes of the Earth, such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and storms, which can result in significant damage to property and loss of life.
Travel disruption refers to interruptions in transportation services, such as flights, trains, or road travel, often caused by adverse weather conditions, accidents, or other emergencies, affecting passengers' ability to reach their destinations.
A power outage is a temporary loss of electrical power in a specific area, often caused by severe weather, equipment failure, or maintenance work, which can disrupt daily activities and services.
A weather warning is an alert issued by meteorological authorities to inform the public of severe weather conditions that may pose a threat to life or property, advising on necessary precautions.
Explore more articles in the Top Stories category
