Another person dies as Storm Babet hits UK, triggers new red warning

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - A second person has died in Scotland amid Storm Babet, with a new red warning issued on Friday.

“Exceptionally heavy and persistent rain" is expected across eastern Scotland, said the warning from the UK’s meteorological service.

A Scotland Police police spokesman confirmed that a 56-year-old driver died on Thursday evening after a falling tree hit a van near Forfar in Angus.

The body of a 57-year-old woman was also recovered in the region.

"We’re now hitting peak river levels for the rivers Dee and Don and there will be high levels and strong flows over the coming hours," the Aberdeenshire Council said on X.

A search is ongoing in Aberdeenshire after reports that a driver was trapped by floodwater as Babet has brought severe flooding to some areas of eastern Scotland.

Earlier, the Angus Council asked hundreds of residents of Brechin to evacuate.

According to the Met Office, this is the first red warning for rain issued in the UK since Storm Dennis in February 2020.