Severe flood and 'risk to life' warning for Derbyshire as Scotland issued rare red weather alert amid Storm Babet

21 October 2023, 09:12 | Updated: 21 October 2023, 12:12

There fears a second river could burst its banks after Storm Babet claimed three lives and submerged Brechin
There fears a second river could burst its banks after Storm Babet claimed three lives and submerged Brechin. Picture: Alamy

By Will Taylor

Warnings of a significant risk to life have been issued for parts of Derbyshire after the River Derwent rose to record levels as Storm Babet batters the UK.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Three severe flood warnings are in place for areas along the river at Derby City Water Treatment Works, Little Chester, Eastgate and Cattle Market, and Racecourse Park at Chaddesden.

This includes the eastern portion of Derby city centre.

"Stay away from flood water and do not take unnecessary risks. Please follow the advice of the emergency services and first responders on the ground and on Derby City Council's website," the government's flood website said.

It added that "Further light rainfall is forecast over the next 36 hours, however river levels continue to rise due to rainfall traveling from the upper Derwent" and levels will remain high until Monday.

It comes after a rare red danger to life warning is still in place for parts of eastern Scotland while amber and yellow warnings are in place across the country, with four months' worth of rain set to fall in a single day.

Friday saw widespread disruption amid very strong winds, heavy rain and flooding, and horrendous conditions have remained.

Hundreds of homes flooded after the River South Esk burst its banks in Brechin, and there are now fears the River Don in Aberdeenshire could follow suit.

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) has modelled that it could flood at between 10am and 2pm at the towns of Inverurie, Kemnay and Kintore.

Read more: Warning of wet and windy weekend as Storm Babet weather warning extended, with 'worst-ever conditions' for some

Assistant Chief Constable of Police Scotland Stuart Houston said: "With the red warning extended until midnight Saturday, this remains a dangerous situation which poses a threat to life.

"Communities in Tayside are dealing with some of the most difficult conditions they have faced, with evacuations continuing of those affected by flooding."

Rescuers work to rescue people in Brechin
Rescuers work to rescue people in Brechin. Picture: Alamy

Across England, there were more than 350 flood warnings and 200 alerts, as the Met Office forecast heavy rain and strong winds in parts of northern England and Scotland.

"Prolonged and very heavy rain is expected to develop across parts of Angus and Aberdeenshire area throughout Saturday, in areas already affected by severe flooding," the forecaster said.

Read more: Trent Alexander-Arnold 'cheats death' in Storm Babet as 40ft pylon crashes down just in front of Liverpool star's car

"Accumulations of 70-100mm are expected over a period of 18-24 hours, the highest accumulations over the hills.

"Less rainfall is expected around coastal areas, but impacts from the higher rainfall further west will extend towards the coast."

Sea foam covers the shore and promenade on Aberdeen Beach.
Sea foam covers the shore and promenade on Aberdeen Beach. Picture: Alamy

Three people have been killed in the storm. A man in his 60s was caught in fast-flowing floods in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire on Friday.

Police Scotland said a falling tree hit a van near Forfar in Angus on Thursday evening, killing the 56-year-old driver.

A 57-year-old woman also died on Thursday after being swept into a river in the region.

Several key roads were closed on Friday, rail lines were blocked and flights were grounded by the severe weather.

A plane skidded off the runway at Leeds Bradford Airport on Friday causing terror for passengers on board.

Rescuers work in Brechin after the town was flooded
Rescuers work in Brechin after the town was flooded. Picture: Alamy

No LNER trains were running north of Edinburgh, and the operator said it didn't expect to start running trains north of the Scottish capital until Monday at the earliest.

It is running "an extremely limited service" and trains could be "subject to short-notice cancellation".

"Customers are being advised to defer travel. Tickets will be valid for travel between Monday 23 October and Friday 27 October 2023 or fee free refunds will be possible from the original point of purchase," LNER said in a statement.

A statement continued: "Customers are being advised to defer travel. Tickets will be valid for travel between Monday 23 October and Friday 27 October 2023 or fee free refunds will be possible from the original point of purchase."

Babet brought flooding across Scotland as hundreds of homes in Brechin, in Angus, were told to leave and a limited amount of sandbags were laid outside homes to limit the damage from water.

Roads were submerged by floods while natural features disappeared beneath the water in rural areas.

More than 75 people were taken to rescue centres in Angus, east Scotland, after being forced to leave their flooded homes.

Angus Council said people in more than 60 homes in Brechin, who refused previous evacuation attempts, required rescue.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) confirmed they had attended about 70 weather related incidents since Thursday morning and received about 750 emergency 999 calls, which a spokesperson confirmed was an "unusually high" number of calls.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Couple holding hands

Campaigners 'deeply moved' by baby loss certificate scheme - as more than 100,000 issued since service started

Pregnancy

Diabetes during pregnancy linked to increased risk of disorders like autism and ADHD in children, study suggests

Just 3% of England’s local road network received any form of maintenance in the 2023/24 financial year, new analysis shows.

Only 3% of local road network received maintenance in the last year

Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed were rejected from entering Israel

Israel's decision to bar two MPs from entering country 'smacks of racism', claims MP

c

Baby girl makes history as first child in UK to be born from womb transplant

US-ISRAEL-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-TRUMP-NETANYAHU

Trump says US will hold direct talks with Iran as he insists Tehran cannot get nuclear weapons

Video footage shows the convoy had emergency lights flashing when it was hit

Israeli troops opened fire on ambulances because of 'perceived threat', IDF investigation finds

Angela

Angela Rayner quizzed on whether Army could be deployed to Birmingham to help collect bins during strike

John Lees

Teacher who crashed car into tree on way to school after drinking half bottle of wine avoids ban from teaching

LBC's Tom Swarbrick headed to Birmingham to investigate the bin strikes

LBC's Tom Swarbrick investigates the Birmingham bin strike as 'mountains of rubbish' fill the streets

Neighbours rushed to the terraced house after a gunman fired into its living room on Sunday.

Horror video shows moment ‘gunman shoots dad, 60, dead through downstairs window’ in broad daylight

Police have launched an urgent search for missing girl, who was last seen 24 hours ago in Stoke-on-Trent.

Urgent hunt for missing schoolgirl, 12, after she didn't return home last night

A plastic surgeon has been found guilty of attempting to murder a fellow doctor

Plastic surgeon guilty of attempting to murder colleague he wanted 'out of the way'

Blondie, 1979. Clockwise from top left, guitarist Chris Stein, singer Debbie Harry, bass player Nigel Harrison, drummer Clem Burke, guitarist Frank Infante and keyboard player Jimmy Destri

Tributes pour in as Blondie star dies aged 70 after private battle with cancer

Seven people were taken to hospital following the blaze

Seven people taken to hospital and eight homes evacuated after fire breaks out at block of flats

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has launched a public inquiry into the Southport murders after three young girls were killed last July.

Inquiry launched into Axel Rudakubana's Southport triple-murder