Severe Flood Warnings in Place as Storms Batter Britain


TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Thousands of people have been left without power as storms raging through Britain show no signs of stopping.

Travel has been disrupted in some parts of England and Wales; some motorways and bridges have been closed and many rail services cancelled in what the army officer leading the recovery efforts described as “an almost unparalleled natural crisis” for Britain.

Severe flood warnings remain in place for much of the south and west with the River Thames at its highest level for over 60 years in some areas, Euronews reported.

Emergency services in Surrey in the south east of England say they have rescued more than 580 people from their homes along the river.

Gusts of over 160 kilometres per hour lashed England and Wales with meteorologists predicting more “wet and breezy” weather over the weekend.

The wind has caused widespread damage; a seventy-year-old man has died in a suspected electrocution after a tree was uprooted and brought down power cables.

Criticised for reacting too slowly to the floods and wind damage, the British government has now promised to spend whatever is needed on the relief effort.