London, Thanasis Gavos

Problems transport and electricity supply and damage in many areas of the United Kingdom was caused by the severe storm Isa which affected the entire territory of the country from Sunday night to Monday.

The main characteristic of the ninth storm named in the last four months was the strongest winds, with their speed measured at 160 kilometers per hour. The strongest gust of wind was even recorded on the Tay Bridge in Scotland, specifically at 172 kilometers per hour.

The Met Office had issued a warning for strong winds with the potential to cause injuries which in a rare event covered the whole of the UK. The warning, albeit subordinate to yesterday’s, is still valid throughout the country until noon on Monday.

Around Monday morning 70,000 homes had no electricity, mainly in Northern Ireland but also in Scotland and northern England. The power problem is expected to be restored on Tuesday. Also 235,000 buildings are without power in Ireland.

After several train cancellations yesterday, the traveling public is being urged to avoid traveling by train north of Newcastle until midday on Monday as winds in the north, in particular, remain strong.

In fact, in northern Scotland, a red wind warning remained in force until the early hours of the morning.

Uprooted trees, building roofs, sections of fences, scaffolding and other objects, even a small greenhouse, have ended up on railway tracks.

The result of these problems is that a speed limit has been imposed on the wires, leading to delays in several departures.

Further south the Tornado and Storm Research Organization (Torro) had warned of the possibility of hailstorms in England and Wales.

There were also dozens of flight cancellations domestic and between Britain and Ireland, with some aircraft having to land at French or even German airports.

At least five drivers were freed from their vehicles by rescuers after they became trapped in rising water levels in north Yorkshire as heavy rain accompanied the winds.

In Belfast there was one civilian injury from scaffolding blown away by the wind.

Major motorways in the north of England and Scotland were also closed for hours, as well as local roads in various areas either due to flooding, or due to objects that had fallen on the road or accidents attributed to the bad weather.

Preventatively several bridges were also closed to trafficas well as the nuclear power plant at Sellafield.