Storm Babet brings severe floods and disruption across UK and continental Europe


Marwa Hassan
  • English
  • Arabic

Storm Babet has left parts of Europe in turmoil, causing widespread chaos across the UK and beyond.

Major disruption, urgent warnings and emergency preparations have been reported across several European countries.

A 57-year-old woman died as a result of flooding caused by the storm in Scotland. The woman was swept away at the Water of Lee, in the north-east of the country, scene of some of the most extreme weather.

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

A third person died in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, where a man lost his life getting caught in fast-flowing flood water on Friday, according to West Mercia Police.

Hundreds of homes in the Scottish town of Brechin have been engulfed by water after flood defences were breached early on Friday morning, prompting continuing rescue operations.

Residents who have evacuated their homes may not be able to return to them before Christmas, said Angus councillor Gavin Nicol.

Unprecedented preparations and warnings

In Denmark, residents in vulnerable areas have been engaged in urgent flood prevention activities.

Emergency measures such as the use of sandbags are in place to tackle rising water levels, particularly in areas such as Assens, on the island of Funen.

Authorities in the south of Denmark have urged residents in exposed eastern coastal areas to evacuate, warning of possible flooding in cottages and harbours.

Forecasts paint a dire picture, with the region bracing for what could be the worst flooding in more than a century.

Waves along eastern coasts are predicted to surge up to four metres.

Municipalities such as Koege have urged residents to minimise water use as treatment plants risk being overwhelmed.

  • Flooded fields in Powys, Wales, after Storm Babet battered the UK, causing widespread flooding and high winds. PA
    Flooded fields in Powys, Wales, after Storm Babet battered the UK, causing widespread flooding and high winds. PA
  • A man crosses a flood-damaged road in Faithlegg, Co. Waterford, Ireland. PA
    A man crosses a flood-damaged road in Faithlegg, Co. Waterford, Ireland. PA
  • Lynsey France and David Pickering inspect flood damage in their home in Catcliffe near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, northern England. PA
    Lynsey France and David Pickering inspect flood damage in their home in Catcliffe near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, northern England. PA
  • Water damaged cars are seen as flood waters begin to recede in the South Yorkshire village of Catcliffe. Getty Images
    Water damaged cars are seen as flood waters begin to recede in the South Yorkshire village of Catcliffe. Getty Images
  • Residents walk through flood water in Retford in Nottinghamshire. PA
    Residents walk through flood water in Retford in Nottinghamshire. PA
  • A rainbow over Ladybower Reservoir as water rushes down one of its 'plug holes' after heavy rain in Castleton, Derbyshire. Reuters
    A rainbow over Ladybower Reservoir as water rushes down one of its 'plug holes' after heavy rain in Castleton, Derbyshire. Reuters
  • Flooded fields around the River Lugg near Leominster in Herefordshire. PA
    Flooded fields around the River Lugg near Leominster in Herefordshire. PA
  • A car stranded on the remains of a washed away bridge near Dundee in Scotland. PA
    A car stranded on the remains of a washed away bridge near Dundee in Scotland. PA
  • South Shields lighthouse in South Tyneside after the dome was torn off by the stormy weather. AP
    South Shields lighthouse in South Tyneside after the dome was torn off by the stormy weather. AP
  • Boats sunk in the harbour in Rodvig, about 80km south of Copenhagen, after Storm Babet hit parts of Denmark. Reuters
    Boats sunk in the harbour in Rodvig, about 80km south of Copenhagen, after Storm Babet hit parts of Denmark. Reuters
  • A road ruined after storm Babet hit Vilstrup and Diernaes in Southern Jutland, Denmark. EPA
    A road ruined after storm Babet hit Vilstrup and Diernaes in Southern Jutland, Denmark. EPA
  • Flooded cars are abandoned in Derby. Getty
    Flooded cars are abandoned in Derby. Getty
  • Ferries arrive and leave the Port of Dover in Kent. PA
    Ferries arrive and leave the Port of Dover in Kent. PA
  • Waves crash against Seaham lighthouse, in County Durham, north-east England. Reuters
    Waves crash against Seaham lighthouse, in County Durham, north-east England. Reuters
  • Watching the floods in Brechin, Angus, north-east Scotland, as Storm Babet batters the country. PA
    Watching the floods in Brechin, Angus, north-east Scotland, as Storm Babet batters the country. PA
  • Waves crash over the promenade in Scarborough in North Yorkshire, England. AP
    Waves crash over the promenade in Scarborough in North Yorkshire, England. AP
  • Members of a coastguard rescue team in Brechin. Storm Babet dumped 25cm of rain in some areas. PA
    Members of a coastguard rescue team in Brechin. Storm Babet dumped 25cm of rain in some areas. PA
  • A van drives through sea foam in Seaburn, Sunderland, north-east England. PA
    A van drives through sea foam in Seaburn, Sunderland, north-east England. PA
  • Waves crash over the harbour wall in Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, north-east Scotland. Reuters
    Waves crash over the harbour wall in Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, north-east Scotland. Reuters
  • Emergency services in Brechin ask residents to leave their homes after flood warnings. PA
    Emergency services in Brechin ask residents to leave their homes after flood warnings. PA
  • Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks with a woman cleaning up flood damage at a business in Midleton, Co Cork, in the Republic of Ireland. PA
    Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks with a woman cleaning up flood damage at a business in Midleton, Co Cork, in the Republic of Ireland. PA
  • A boat owner braves Storm Babet to secure vessels at Stonehaven harbour, in north-east Scotland. AFP
    A boat owner braves Storm Babet to secure vessels at Stonehaven harbour, in north-east Scotland. AFP
  • The clean-up gets under way on Main street in Midleton, Co Cork. PA
    The clean-up gets under way on Main street in Midleton, Co Cork. PA
  • A tree blown over by Storm Babet in Brechin. PA
    A tree blown over by Storm Babet in Brechin. PA
  • Waves crash over the harbour wall in Stonehaven. Getty
    Waves crash over the harbour wall in Stonehaven. Getty
  • The aftermath of Storm Babet in Midleton, Co Cork. PA
    The aftermath of Storm Babet in Midleton, Co Cork. PA
  • Residents climb over a flood defence barrier in the village of Edzell, near Brechin, in Angus, north-east Scotland. PA
    Residents climb over a flood defence barrier in the village of Edzell, near Brechin, in Angus, north-east Scotland. PA

Travel warnings and cancellations

Storm Babet has severely disrupted air travel across Europe, causing numerous cancellations and delays.

Aberdeen Airport in Scotland announced that at least nine departures and seven arrivals were cancelled on Friday morning.

Cancellations had also been reported on Thursday, with Scottish regional airline Loganair cancelling dozens of flights due to the adverse weather.

In Denmark, Copenhagen's airport has issued warnings of potential cancellations and delays.

The Danish national rail company and several ferry lines have also issued alerts to travellers.

Sweden is also on high alert, with meteorologists issuing warnings of record high water levels along the southern coast.

Similar warnings have been issued by aviation and travel authorities elsewhere in Europe.

The storm has also caused destruction in parts of southern Europe.

Spain, already facing severe drought conditions, has experienced significant disruption due to Storm Babet.

The storm has led to the closure of public parks, ferry cancellations and heightened weather alerts across several regions.

Terrifying moments in Scottish skies

A KLM flight encountered difficulties while attempting to land at Aberdeen airport in tumultuous weather.

The aircraft touched down safely having been forced to abort its initial landing attempt.

Intense weather affects Germany and Norway

Germany is bracing for potential flooding, especially in the regions south of the Denmark border, including Schleswig-Holstein.

Emergency warnings are in place for potential high waters along the Baltic coast, affecting transport, including some ferry services.

In Norway, meteorologists have issued alerts concerning strong winds due to atmospheric pressure variations between Britain and northern Scandinavia.

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Match is on BeIN Sports

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Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara

He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada

Father of two sons, grandfather of six

Plays golf once a week

Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family

Walks for an hour every morning

Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India

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Industry: E-grocery

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Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

Updated: October 20, 2023, 4:08 PM