Storms Boelo and Austen Kill One, Cut Power to 150,000 Homes
Storms Boelo and Austen struck northern Europe within 24 hours, killing a 60-year-old man in Scotland and cutting power to over 150,000 homes.
The story in focus
Al Jazeera reports that storms Boelo and Austen hit northern Europe within 24 hours, killing a 60-year-old man in southwestern Scotland and leaving more than 150,000 homes without power across the UK, France and Germany, while disrupting flights, rail lines and phone networks.
- More than 82,000 UK homes, nearly 60,000 French homes and at least 10,000 German homes lost power on Sunday.
- A falling tree killed a 60-year-old man in southwestern Scotland; two women were injured in central Scotland.
- Winds reached 135 km/h in Argyll and Bute, western Scotland.
- France's Enedis reported 288,000 homes without power at Austen's peak on Saturday, with 59,000 still cut at midday Sunday.
- Hundreds of flights were cancelled or diverted, including at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport.
Scotland hit hardest
A falling tree killed a 60-year-old man in southwestern Scotland on Sunday and injured two women in central Scotland, according to the Press Association as cited by Al Jazeera. Winds of up to 135 km/h were recorded in Argyll and Bute in western Scotland.
Downed trees and power cables blocked roads and rail lines across Scotland and northern England. The Met Office warned of danger to life from flying debris and waves, and advised people to stay indoors where possible. Authorities flagged flood risk in parts of Scotland and England.
Power cuts across the continent
French utility Enedis said 288,000 homes lost power at Austen's peak on Saturday; about 59,000 remained cut at midday Sunday, mainly in Normandy and Brittany. A runner was lightly injured by a fallen tree during a race in northern France.
In Germany, Austen cut power to 10,000 homes around Freiburg, where the main hospital limited service to emergency cases and the mobile network failed. Police said two people were seriously hurt in Nastatten when scaffolding blew over at a market.
Transport and regional disruption
In Brussels, falling trees injured four people on Saturday. The Dutch coastguard said three crew on a freight ship north of Schiermonnikoog were hurt, two winched off by helicopter.
Hundreds of flights were cancelled or diverted across northern Europe, including at Amsterdam's Schiphol. Al Jazeera reported that experts have warned of more extreme weather due to climate change.
How many homes were without power across the UK, France and Germany after the storms?
Authorities reported more than 82,000 UK homes, nearly 60,000 in France and at least 10,000 in Germany without power on Sunday, totaling over 150,000 across the three countries.
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