Second person dies during Storm Babet after falling tree strikes van near Forfar in Angus

A second person has died after being hit by a tree as life-threatening weather bringing strong winds and severe floods sweeps the country.

Shortly after 5pm on Thursday afternoon, police were called to a report of a one-vehicle crash in which a tree struck a van near Forfar in Angus, killing the 56-year-old driver.

The incident happened on the B9127 at Whigstreet and the road remains closed.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 5.05pm on Thursday, October 19, 2023, police received a report of a one-vehicle crash in which a tree struck a van on the B9127 at Whigstreet near Forfar.

“Emergency services attended, however, the 56-year-old driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Next of kin have been informed and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

“The road remains closed.”

A 57-year-old woman also died after being swept into a river in Angus on Thursday afternoon while more than 400 homes in the area were asked to evacuate.

An urgent search is under way after reports of a man trapped in a vehicle in floodwater near Marykirk.

Angus Council has said it is in “the middle of a very serious emergency” with “unprecedented” record-breaking flooding with most roads affected.

Flood levels are more than half a metre over the highest recorded. Defences in Brechin were breached at around 4am with River South Esk 4.4m above normal.

A further red warning for rain has been issued as life-threatening weather will continue into Saturday, the Met Office said.

A warning covering Aberdeenshire, Angus, Perth and Kinross and Dundee will end at midday on Friday. However a second red alert comes into force at midnight.