Storm Isha batters Britain, cutting power and diverting flights
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Large waves hit the seawall and harbour during Storm Isha, at Newhaven, southern Britain, on Jan 22.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON - Tens of thousands of people across Britain and Ireland were without power on Jan 22 after Storm Isha lashed the countries with strong winds and heavy rain,
Gusts of 159kmh were recorded in north-east England as the whole of Britain was subject to weather warnings for its ninth named storm since September.
The high winds felled three trees and damaged several others at a site in Northern Ireland made famous by the hit fantasy TV series Game Of Thrones.
“This is another blow to the Dark Hedges,” said Mr Mervyn Storey, chairman of the preservation trust at the County Antrim site, now a major tourist destination thanks to the HBO drama.
Isha follows Storm Henk, which crashed into Britain earlier in January, causing widespread flooding and disruption to train services and roads.
More strong winds and heavy rain are forecast on Jan 23 and 24 as the next storm of the season, Jocelyn, barrels in.
Climatologists say climate change is causing winters in the region to be warmer and wetter, increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events.
In Ireland, which was badly hit by Isha, at least 235,000 homes endured power cuts, according to energy provider ESB.
Another 45,000 people were without electricity in Northern Ireland, where a motorist died late on Jan 21.
Several thousand properties went dark in north-west England and Wales, and several people had to be rescued from their cars in northern England when a swollen river broke its banks.
Felled trees in Scotland closed major roads, while debris and floods forced the cancellation of all morning rush-hour trains in the country on Jan 22.
Police said an 84-year-old man died on Jan 21 when the car he was in hit a fallen tree near the Scottish capital Edinburgh.
Dozens of flights were cancelled or delayed late on Jan 21, with some planes diverted after they were unable to land due to high winds.
Isha follows Storm Henk, which crashed into Britain earlier in January, causing widespread flooding and disruption to train services and roads.
PHOTO: REUTERS
A Ryanair flight to Dublin from Manchester landed in Paris, while another heading to the Irish capital from the Canary Islands was rerouted to Bordeaux in south-western France after unsuccessful attempts to touch down.
Several dozen schools in the Scottish Highlands were closed on Jan 22 as flood warnings remained in place. AFP
