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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Nadeem Badshah

Storm Dennis: second body pulled from the sea near Kent – live updates

Summary of today's developments

  • Two bodies were pulled from rough seas in Kent as the UK was battered by Storm Dennis. One man was found on Saturday after a huge search operation off Margate following an early-morning distress call while another was found at Herne Bay.
  • Storm Dennis could flood hundreds of homes across the country and bring a month’s rainfall in 24 hours.
  • Met Office has issued danger to life warnings.
  • The army was called in to Calderdale in West Yorkshire to prepare the area with flood defences.
  • The Environment Agency said there are 35 flood warnings in place and also 246 flood alerts across the UK.

Updated

There are 144 properties without power in Camborne, Cornwall, according to Western Power Distribution.

The company said they are aiming to get power back by 12:30am on Sunday.

A further 285 properties are without power near Little Petherick, Cornwall but they should get it back by 8:30pm.

Det Supt Ben Deer of Devon & Cornwall police has tweeted that the River Teign in Devon has burst its banks alongside the A38 and B3344 near Chudleigh and may flood the road.

Updated

The Environment Agency has warned drivers that a mere 30cm of water could put them in danger:

Inspector Si Jenkinson, from Devon and Cornwall Police, tweets a picture of the precarious state of the roads in the area.

Updated

Environment Agency: 34 flood warnings in place

The Environment Agency says there are now 34 flood warnings in place and also 246 flood alerts.

Updated

The Met Office’s latest forecast warns of further severe gales for tomorrow and Monday.

The Environment Agency team in the South West have installed measures to reduce the impact of flooding:

Motorists are being urged to avoid Stokes Bay Road in Gosport, Hampshire, which is starting to flood.

..and the A9 between Perth and Stirling is also causing difficulties for motorists.

Scottish rail services appear to be bearing the brunt of the disruption due to the weather conditions.

There are now 28 flood warnings and 228 flood alerts in force across England due to the storm which has been branded a “bomb cyclone”.

Warnings mean that flooding is expected and immediate action is required. Alerts mean that flooding is possible and people should be prepared.

There are 20 flood warnings and 15 flood alerts are in place across Scotland, according to the Scottish Environment Agency.

In Wales there are two flood warnings and 35 flood alerts in force.

Updated

Second body pulled from the sea near Kent

A second body has been pulled from the sea near Kent, police said.

Officers were called to Herne Bay at 12.15pm on Saturday and a man was declared dead at the scene. Next of kin have been informed.

Earlier, a body was found after an extensive search operation near Margate harbour after reports of a man on an oil tanker falling overboard.

Updated

Conditions in western Herefordshire are getting worse, the Environment Agency said.

A woman braves strong winds to cross the Millennium Bridge in central London.
A woman braves strong winds to cross the Millennium Bridge in central London. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Soldiers from The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland in Mytholmroyd assisting with flood defences, in the Upper Calder Valley in West Yorkshire,.
Soldiers from The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland in Mytholmroyd assisting with flood defences, in the Upper Calder Valley in West Yorkshire. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

A number of events and tourist attractions have been cancelled today due to the storm.

In Walsall, Bloxwich and Willenhall all the markets have been stopped from going ahead this weekend.

Monkey World in Dorset has also closed for the day, as has Lyme Regis Aquarium.

Rachel Burden, an Environment Agency Flood and Coastal Risk Manager, on the flood defence measures in Somerset.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has suspended services between the island’s capital, Douglas, and Heysham in Lancashire.

The firm says there may be no sailings until Monday morning because of Storm Dennis but “the situation will be checked regularly in case any can run”.

Earlier, Wightlink Travel announced the Lymington to Yarmouth ferry service has been cancelled for today.

Updated

Environment Agency Midlands has warned that Storm Dennis could bring some heavy rain to Lincolnshire overnight and tomorrow.

An update from the Environment Agency on the state of play in Cumbria:

The man whose body was found off the coast of Kent had fallen from a fuel tanker.

He was reported overboard early on Saturday morning from a liquid petroleum gas tanker that was anchored off the harbour overnight and was discovered in the water at around 1pm after a seven-hour search in “very rough seas”, the coastguard said.

Updated

The Humber Bridge in Yorkshire has been closed to high-sided and wind-vulnerable vehicles.

Updated

Wightlink Travel has announced the Lymington to Yarmouth ferry service has been cancelled for today.

The Portsmouth to Fishbourne ferry is still running but the company said it cannot be guaranteed for the rest of the day and people should only travel if essential.

Updated

There are now 18 flood warnings and 198 flood alerts issued across England, the Environment Agency said.

The warnings cover the North Sea at Scarborough, Lower Avon at Christchurch, Upper Frome at Maiden Newton and the Aire, Dart, Dee, Lemon, Ouse, Severn, Teign, Washford and Yarty rivers.

Updated

Nice day for a game of rugby?

Body found in search for man in sea off Kent coast

A body has been found after an extensive search operation off the coast of Kent. Lifeboats and the coastguard helicopter had been scouring the sea near Margate harbour after reports of a man overboard, HM Coastguard said.

HMS Westminster was also believed to have responded to a relay call, and is in the area, according to ship-tracking data. The search operation came as the UK braced for the arrival of Storm Dennis, just one week after Storm Ciara.

Updated

Army 'ready to help' flood-hit communities

The government said it will use “all means” available to help flood-hit communities after the army was sent in to help locals in West Yorkshire prepare for Storm Dennis.

A deployment of 75 soldiers from the 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland was supporting the Environment Agency’s efforts in Calderdale, which is expecting floods for the second weekend in a row.

A further 70 reservists from the 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment were sent to help.

The defence secretary, Ben Wallace, said: “Our armed forces are always ready to support local authorities and communities whenever they need it.

“The rapid response of the army today will help with provision of flood relief to local communities in West Yorkshire.

“The government won’t hesitate to use all means at its disposal to mitigate the effects of Storm Dennis.”

Updated

Oliver Harmar, from the Environment Agency, is in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, where troops are preparing flood defences.

Updated

The Environment Agency has advised motorists to stay away from swollen rivers and not to drive through flood water.

Updated

The Met Office said the main areas of concern on Saturday are north and south-west England and Wales, with the south-east bearing the brunt more on Sunday.

At just after 1pm on Saturday, there were 17 flood warnings – meaning flooding is “expected” – and 179 flood alerts – meaning flooding is possible – across the country.

Updated

Torbay coastguard in Devon has issued advice to people in the area.

It said: “Even with high tide slacking off, there’s lots of debris in the water including large rocks.”

Updated

John Curtin, executive director of flood and coastal risk management at the Environment Agency, has posted a timeline on when Storm Dennis is expected to hit the UK.

Updated

Animal shelter Battersea has advised pet owners to check their fences and gates before letting their dogs out in the garden and consider keeping them indoors until the storm passes.

Updated

Emergency services are warning of dangerous driving conditions.

North Wales Police said very high winds had led to debris and branches falling off trees while Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said it had rescued a motorist from a car stuck in flood water in the Liskeard area.

Carlisle East Fire Station has advised motorists to avoid driving through flood water.

Two drop-in centres have been opened for people affected by flooding in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

Updated

The weather has played havoc with sporting fixtures scheduled for today.

Nine games have already been called off in the National League.

Rochdale against Tranmere is also off in League One owing to a waterlogged pitch.

Updated

CrossCountry rail passengers have been advised that some journeys will take longer because of speed restrictions.

Updated

The Met Office has updated its advice on the amber warnings issued. Amber means it is quite likely that adverse weather will affect people, possibly including travel delays, road and rail closures and power cuts.

Updated

Sussex police have issued advice to households on who to call to deal with fallen trees, debris, flooding and other hazards.

Updated

The Environment Agency has put measures in place in Yorkshire and Northumberland to reduce water levels.

Updated

Network Rail has advised passengers to expect disruption on many routes and to allow more time for their journeys because of flooding.

Meanwhile, people living near the railway are being urged to secure any loose items in their gardens, after several trampolines were blown on to tracks and overhead electric wires last weekend, blocking lines.

The storm is also likely to cause treacherous driving conditions, and people have been urged not to attempt to drive into deep floodwater.

Updated

John Curtin, the Environment Agency’s executive director of flood and coastal risk management, has responded to a picture posted on Twitter of an abandoned caravan in the north-west.

Updated

“The Devil’s Chimney” has been blowing backwards in Donegal.

The Environment Agency said flooding was likely to be worse than under last weekend’s Storm Ciara because rain was falling on already saturated ground. In England alone, 800 properties were left flooded when Storm Ciara struck, the EA said.

George Eustice, the newly appointed environment secretary, said authorities were “fully focused on ensuring that communities are protected”.

Troops are being deployed to help with preparations in the Calder Valley in West Yorkshire.

Calderdale council said military personnel would also join workers and volunteers to support flood recovery efforts in the area, which was badly hit by flooding during Storm Ciara.

Storm Dennis is forecast to bring heavy rain across the Pennines, leaving towns like Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd in the Calder Valley at risk of further flooding.

Flood defences will be in operation this weekend, with additional temporary flood barriers being installed in Shropshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Surrey. More than 500 staff are on active incident duty and 30 mobile pumps have been deployed, the EA said.

Updated

Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s coverage of Storm Dennis which is set to cause weather disruption for the second weekend in a row.

The latest advice from the Met Office:

Updated

A Royal Navy ship is assisting in a search and rescue operation off the coast of Margate, Kent, after a man was reported overboard.

The incident was reported at 5.41am and an extensive search is under way, HM Coastguard said.

RNLI lifeboats, a police boat and the coastguard helicopter are working with the navy ship in an effort to search the area.

A coastguard spokesman said: “RNLI lifeboats from Ramsgate and Margate have been sent, along with the search and rescue helicopter from Lydd.

“A police RHIB is also on scene. HM Coastguard broadcast a relay to vessels in the area, and a Royal Navy vessel is assisting.”

The distress call is believed to have come from B Gas Margrethe, a 99-metre Maltese tanker that had been anchored off the coast of Margate.

Updated

Flights will be grounded for safety reasons, with British Airways and easyJet confirming cancellations.

Flights have been cancelled from Luton airport.

Anyone hoping to fly is advised to check their airline’s website for the latest updates.

More than 230 easyJet flights in and out of the UK on Saturday have been cancelled because of the weather.

A spokesman for British Airways said: “The majority of our flights are planned to operate as planned, but, like all airlines flying to and from the UK today, we are experiencing some disruption due to the stormy weather conditions.

“We are merging a small number of Heathrow short-haul flights to the same destination and using larger aircraft where possible to minimise disruption. Customers can check ba.com for the latest flight information.”

A spokeswoman for easyJet said: “Due to forecasted adverse weather conditions caused by Storm Dennis, easyJet, like other airlines, is currently seeing disruption to its flight programme for Saturday 15 February. We are doing everything possible to minimise the impact of the disruption for our customers and to arrange alternative travel.

“Customers on cancelled flights have been given the option of transferring their flight free of charge or receiving a refund. We will also provide hotel rooms and meals for customers who require them.”

Ryanair said all its flights were operating as normal.

Updated

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