Storm Darragh leaves one dead and thousands without power in UK and Ireland

As Storm Darragh rages across the UK and Ireland on Saturday, one man was killed after a tree fell on his car. Tens of thousands of people are without power and train traffic is disrupted. Belgium will also see strong winds throughout the day, with gusts between 60 and 80 km per hour inland and up to 100 km per hour at the coast.

Millions of people in the UK have been asked to stay indoors on Saturday as authorities warn of weather conditions that are “potentially life-threatening”. In Preston, in north-west England, a man was killed after a tree fell on his car.

In the north of Ireland, England and Wales, people are without power, bridges and parks are closed and air traffic is affected. Some train traffic is also down. Wind speeds of up to 150 km per hour have been measured.

About three million people received a warning from the government on their smartphones. “The strong winds outside may lead to injuries. Please stay indoors where possible,” it read. According to British public broadcaster BBC, it’s the first time the alert system has been deployed on such a large scale.

Situation in Belgium

In Belgium too, the wind is going to be strong all day. The ​ Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) has forecast a lot of rain and strong winds for Saturday, especially in the south-west of the country. Gusts of between 60 and 80 km per hour inland and up to 100 km per hour at sea are predicted.

In Brussels, all regional parks, nature reserves and forests are closed to the public. The Sonian Forest will also be closed all Saturday.

^{A police car showing a warning message, drives towards a fallen tree blocking a road near Liverpool, on 7 December 2024 © BELGA PHOTO Paul ELLIS / AFP}