28 September 2023 , 07:50
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A clean-up operation is underway across parts of the UK after Storm Agnes unleashed gale-force winds and tore into buildings.
Flooding, travel disruption and power cuts have been reported in the wake of the autumn storm, with another round of rainy and windy conditions expected to hit Britain later on Thursday as a new weather front moves in from the west. Wind speeds reached a high of 79mph in Capel Curig in Wales, and exceeded 60mph in several parts of the country.
Trains between Carlisle and Edinburgh were severely disrupted last night due to the weather, while more travel chaos was seen near Chester when a tree blew onto the tracks, blocking tracks and causing delays for commuters.
A woman was dramatically rescued from her car in a flooded river on Thursday afternoon in County Londonderry (X - @NiResponseVids)In County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, a woman was dramatically rescued from her car in a flooded river on Thursday afternoon amid a frantic recue mission involving 32 firefighters. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) were called to the scene in Draperstown shortly after 2:30pm, where crews used a a ladder to reach the car from a bridge and stop it from being carried further downstream. But rapidly rising river levels meant the car was soon almost fully submerged, forcing them to act quickly to save the occupant of the vehicle. One crew member then climbed onto the roof of the car, broke the rear window and dragged the woman away to safety.
Dramatic scenes were also seen in Co Cork, Ireland, where strong winds blew the roof off this building (PA)Issuing a warning to the public in the aftermath, the NIFRS said in a statement: "Do not attempt to walk through flooded areas. Even shallow water moving fast can sweep you off your feet and there may be hidden dangers such as open drains, damaged road surfaces, submerged debris or deep channels; these can cause serious injuries or even death"
Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts
An easyJet plane was unable to land in Belfast on Wednesday afternoon because of what the airline described as "winds gusting outside the limits of the aircraft", while 135 properties on the Isles of Scilly off Cornwall suffered power outages for around four hours after the island was hit by 63mph gales.
While the winds are expected to die down early on Thursday, many rush hour commuters will likely see signs that storm has passed through - and some households been told that binmen may deliberately put their dustbins on the ground, over concerns for public safety. Bradford council said on social media: "In an attempt to make conditions safer for residents, our bin crews may place bins on their sides to prevent them being blown around."
The Republic of Ireland has also seen flooding and travel disruption over the past 24 hours, with fallen trees blocking roads and flights and ferries also being affected. One photograph from County Cork showed a rood completely pulled off after being battered by winds. Conditions will calm in the UK on Thursday before a band of rain pushes east across northern areas, while a more "general area" of rain across the southwest will spread northeast overnight, according to the Met Office.