Storm Dennis: Woman swept away in flood water during heavy rain is feared dead

  • The woman went missing near Tenbury, Worcestershire
  • The bodies of two men were pulled from rough seas off Kent on Saturday
  • A hiker died in Scotland but it is not clear if his death is weather-related
  • Read our live updates on flooding and Storm Dennis here
Ellena Cruse17 February 2020

A woman who was swept away in flood water after Storm Dennis brought heavy rain and strong winds to the UK is feared dead.

West Mercia Police said they expect to be a conducting a “recovery” rather than a “rescue” operation in the hunt for the woman near Tenbury, Worcestershire.

On Saturday, the bodies of two men were pulled from rough seas off Kent, as the UK was battered by the latest named storm.

Chief Superintendent Tom Harding of West Mercia Police said it was with a “heavy heart” that the rescue operation was called off for safety reasons on Sunday night.

A man wades through flood water towards an ambulance in a flooded street in Tenbury Wells
AFP via Getty Images

Although it was resumed on Monday, he added that they are not expecting to find the woman alive.

“It was not a decision that any of the emergency services took lightly, but fire and rescue colleagues who were co-ordinating the operation took the decision as conditions became extremely challenging due to darkness and fast flowing flood water,” he said.

“The search has continued this morning, including the use of the police helicopter.

Storm Dennis has caused severe flooding in Tenbury
Getty Images

“Sadly, however, due to the circumstances of the length of time in the water and other conditions we believe that this will now be a recovery rather than rescue operation.

"Her family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.”

A man recovered from the water in the same incident was airlifted to hospital where he remains in a stable condition, police said.

A bin floats in flood water in a street in Tenbury
AFP via Getty Images

A man also died after falling from mountains in Scotland, but it is not clear if the death was weather-related.

On Sunday, a man in his 60s died after being pulled from the River Tawe near Trebanos Rugby Club in Wales, but Dyfed-Powys Police said his death was not being linked to the bad weather.

Communities across the UK are counting the cost of Dennis, which lashed the country with 90mph winds and drenched some places with more than a month's worth of rain in 48 hours.

Severe alerts are in place with officials warning of an "immediate risk to life".

In South Wales on Monday, residents were returning to their homes to survey and repair the damage.

A tree in south London uprooted by Storm Dennis
PA

Photos of conditions in York showed streets submerged under floodwater.

Over the weekend major incidents due to flooding were declared in South Wales, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

Four of the five severe flood warnings from the Environment Agency (EA) in place on Monday were for the River Teme at Eardiston, Little Hereford and Ashford Carbonel, Ludlow and Tenbury Wells and Burford.

An emergency relief centre has been opened in Tenbury High Ormiston Academy for people affected by flooding.

Pedestrians try to avoid a puddle as they walk down Oxford Street
REUTERS

A fifth severe warning, which mean there is a "danger to life", is in place for the River Wye at Blackmarstone in Hereford.

An "emergency evacuation" took place for some streets in Hereford due to flooding and Hereford Football Club opened its doors to people affected by the conditions.

As of 11am on Monday, more than 500 flood alerts and warnings covered much of England, stretching from the North West to the South West.

John Curtin, the EA's executive director of flood and coastal risk management, tweeted that, despite the heaviest rain passing, there is still "a live incident".

London Black taxicab's drive through a puddle on Oxford Street during Storm Dennis
REUTERS

The aftermath of Storm Dennis also continued to cause transport chaos on Monday as train lines and roads were blocked by flooding and fallen trees.

Network Rail is assessing the repairs needed to reopen parts of the railway damaged by torrential downpours and strong winds over the weekend.

CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Northern, South Western Railway, Southern, Thameslink and Transport for Wales were among the operators with delays and cancellations on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, in York, the Environment Agency said water levels on the River Ouse are set to peak on Tuesday afternoon, but at levels below those seen during the widespread flooding in the city in 2015 and 2000.

Drone images of Storm Dennis hitting Crickhowell in Wales

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A spokesman said: “Our forecasts are currently showing the River Ouse in York will reach 4.8m on the morning of Tuesday February 18 and is likely to remain at or around this level for a couple of days afterwards.

“At this level, we expect there may be further properties flooded in York.”

Many homes flooded in 2015 when the Foss Barrier – which stops floodwater from the River Ouse washing up the smaller River Foss – had to be left open when the mechanism was inundated.

The barrier, which has been closed for Storm Dennis, has been upgraded over the last five years.

City of York Council leader Keith Aspden said: “We’ve deployed over 4,000 sandbags across the city and over 200 one-tonne sandbags to help the residents in the most at-risk locations.

“York is very much open for business and as we move into half-term week, we’re encouraging everyone to visit our fantastic city, which always has much to offer.”

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