A killer storm batters Britain as two more sweep in to inflict further damage and misery
Britain is in the grip of weather mayhem as 100mph winds and
torrential rain bring death and destruction – and more storms are on the
way.
One man was electrocuted in Wiltshire by fallen power
cables. The storm damage could cost us £15billion. One expert said:
“This is an unparalleled natural crisis.”
Many areas were battered
by hurricane force gusts that sparked travel chaos up and down the land
with large chunks of the rail network grinding to a halt due to fallen
overhead lines, debris on track and speed restrictions.
Virgin
trains sent out a dramatic statement warning all customers to “abandon
travel” and urged those already on trips to get off at the next station.
As
weather experts issued a red alert for Wales and the North West,
spelling a danger to life, a man in his 70s was electrocuted while
trying to clear a fallen tree that had hit power cables.
And forecasters warned two more fearsome storms are heading our way from the Atlantic and will strike over the next few days, giving little respite from the devastation.Hundreds
of thousands of people were left without power when electricity cables
were damaged and many areas already flooded suffered more deluges.
The
West, North West and Wales bore the brunt of the foul weather, as
troops were placed on stand by to help with the clear up. Gusts of
108mph hit Aberdaron on the North Wales coast.
Police said the man who died was electrocuted in Calne, Wilts, after high winds brought down the tree. Paramedics tried to save him but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ports
and airports were also battered by the storms. Crossings between Dover
and Calais were cancelled or faced delays. Irish Sea trips between
Heysham, Lancs, and the Isle of Man were axed and in Liverpool all
Mersey ferry services were stopped. There were also delays on the Isle
of Wight ferries.
Flights to and from John Lennon airport in
Liverpool were severely disrupted and some jets at Manchester airport
were grounded. Birmingham and Cardiff airports also had delays.
WeatherWeb forecaster Simon Keeling warned last night: “It’s not over yet.
“We
have to get over Saturday first of all. We can describe today’s storm
as exceptional. It’s probably the strongest we have had this winter in
terms of the broad area it has covered.”
And the Met Office added:
“The system coming in from the south will push in and develop on
Friday. Into Monday we are likely to see further wet and windy weather.”
Paul Leinster, chief executive of the Environment Agency, said: “With
further rain expected in the coming days, after the wettest January on
record in England, the situation is likely to get worse before it gets
better.”
On the trains, all Virgin services north out of London
Euston were suspended until further notice. In Cheshire, Crewe station
was evacuated and all journeys stopped after the roof was blown off the
station. It later reopened.
