Key Points
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Second red warning for ‘life-threatening’ rain comes into force for 24 hours - Storm Babet claims three lives with another person still missing
- More than 30,000 homes go without power
- Travel chaos continues as planes, trains and buses cancelled or delayed
- Eight SPFL matches called off due to weather conditions
- First Minister warns ‘this is not over’ as more amber and yellow warnings come into effect
- Hundreds of houses across Brechin and Dundee evacuated
A second red weather warning for severe rainfall has come into effect for 24 hours as Scotland braces for another bruising day of Storm Babet.
The east of the country will continue to be battered with “unprecedented” rain while high winds and flooding could spark further travel chaos.
Parts of Angus and Aberdeenshire have been issued with another rare red warning for rain presenting a serious danger to life from fast-flowing water.
A number of amber and yellow warnings are also in place across nearly the entire east of the country, as well as parts of the northern Highlands and central belt.
Three people have already lost their lives to the storm while a major search for a missing person continues.
A 56-year-old man was killed on Thursday near Forfar in Angus – which is in the red warning zone – when a tree hit his van.
Earlier that day, a 57-year-old woman died after being swept into a river in Angus.
In England, a man in his 60s died after getting caught in fast-flowing flood water from a brook that breached a road in Shropshire.
Getty ImagesFirst Minister Humza Yousaf warned “we have not seen the last of this” as the storm continues to present a risk to life in some areas.
The torrential weather led to roads and bridges collapsing with fears that a tiny village could be completely cut off for a second time.
A 200-year-old bridge on the Rottal Estate in Angus was washed away by torrential flood water, while a road connecting Marykirk, Angus, where some houses were evacuated also collapsed.
The village of Edzell, Angus, was cut off by flood water from three rivers which surround it, but most of the surface water drained away, leaving residents fearful of more rain forecast overnight.
Nearly 30,000 customers lost power but were mostly reconnected by 5pm, with 3,800 properties still without electricity, according to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN).
The FM paid tribute to two people who died in “tragic circumstances” as he warned people to listen to advice and avoid travelling in areas under the warning zones.
Travel chaos continues
Train operator ScotRail has warned disruption to services could last until Sunday due to the impact of Storm Babet.
Routes that are currently closed will not re-open unless it is deemed safe to do so.
The routes affected are between:
– Aberdeen and Elgin.
– Edinburgh and Aberdeen via Fife.
– Perth and Aberdeen via Dundee.
– Dunblane and Perth.
– Perth and Aviemore.
– Tain and Wick / Thurso.
– All Fife Circle services.
People in areas falling under weather warnings are urged not to travel but those who are making journeys are asked to check with their transport provider for the latest updates.
Where are flood warnings in place?
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued 17 flood warnings, 12 flood alerts and five severe flood warnings, as of 9pm on Saturday.
The areas with a severe flood warning – the highest warning available – are:
The areas falling under a flood alert are:
- Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City
- Caithness and Sutherland
- Central
- Dundee and Angus
- Easter Ross and Great Glen
- Edinburgh and Lothians
- Fife
- Findhorn Nairn Moray and Speyside
- Orkney
- Scottish Borders
- Tayside
- West Central Scotland
The areas with a flood warning are:
- Kintore
- Kemnay
- Inverurie
- Inchbare
- Spey Viaduct to Spey Bay
- Boat O’Brig to Spey Viaduct
- Aberlour, Craigellachie and Dandaleith
- Churchill Barriers
- Greenlaw to Allanton
- The River Isla at Coupar Angus
- Kemphill to Bridge of Isla
- Innerpeffray to Bridge of Earn
- Crieff to Innerpeffray
- Carse of Lennoch to Lochlane
- Bridge of Ruthven to Leitfie
- Blairgowrie to the River Isla
- Aberbothrie
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