Storm Bawel Batters UK, Leaving Two Dead and Thousands Without Power

Powerful winds, heavy rain and flash flooding from Storm Bawel have battered the United Kingdom, claiming at least two lives and severely disrupting daily life. Nearly 90,000 households remained without electricity as of Sunday night, October 25, local time.

The fatalities occurred after trees were uprooted and fell during the storm. Police said a 60-year-old man died after being trapped beneath a fallen tree in Dumfries, Scotland. In a separate incident in north London, a young man in his twenties was killed when a tree fell onto a moving car. Two other women were also injured by falling trees and taken to hospital.

Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England were among the worst-hit areas, with wind gusts reaching 135 kilometres per hour. Some parts of Scotland recorded rainfall over the past two days equivalent to roughly one-third of their average monthly rainfall.

Persistent rain has raised concerns about flooding in riverside and low-lying areas. In response, environmental agencies in England, Scotland and Wales issued multiple flood warnings across affected regions.

The storm has also caused widespread disruption to road and rail networks. Several major roads in Scotland were closed, while train services were temporarily suspended in some areas. Adverse weather conditions also forced airports to cancel or divert a number of flights.

The UK Met Office said conditions were expected to ease somewhat on Monday, October 26. However, further heavy rain and strong winds could return from Tuesday, prompting renewed weather warnings across parts of Scotland and northern England.

Authorities have urged residents in affected areas to remain alert to weather updates and potential flooding as the country continues to deal with the storm's aftermath.