Storm Bert's 70mph winds and horror flooding kill at least 3 people in nightmare weekend

Storm Bert has caused a 'major incident' crossed the state arsenic 3 radical mislaid their lives portion councils crossed Wales measure the harm near down by the brutal weekend's weather

A "major incident" has been declared pursuing the brutal winds and weather brought connected by Storm Bert.

The UK was deed with 70mph winds arsenic the tempest claimed astatine slightest 3 lives crossed the country. Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, South Wales Fire and Rescue, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and South Wales Police person declared a large incidental for the borough.

It comes aft the assemblage of dog walker Brian Perry, 75, was recovered aft helium went missing successful the River Conwy connected Saturday, North Wales Police confirmed. Between 200 and 300 properties successful the country person been affected by flooding portion the assembly confirmed "significant" flooding had taken place, with the "impact looking to beryllium much important than the terrible interaction experienced during Storm Dennis."

Political leaders person since called it an "absolutely devastating" weekend, with Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan saying it had been a "really hard weekend" for those affected. Baroness Morgan said: “I deliberation this is the 2nd clip that galore of those person suffered arsenic a effect of the storm. There’s been immense investments since the past tempest hit, truthful we’ve managed to support tons much properties than past time.

“But evidently this is perfectly devastating conscionable earlier Christmas for those radical who person been impacted." A Welsh Government spokesperson said it volition beryllium “vital that radical proceed to instrumentality other attraction implicit the coming days and travel authoritative advice”.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has besides confirmed helium spoke to Baroness Morgan astir the flooding successful Wales and was receiving updates connected Storm Bert arsenic it develops crossed the UK. A Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council spokesperson says the assembly has assessed the damage, with the tempest bringing connected a fig of road closures.

"There are a fig of highways closures, with a landslip connected the Bwlch Mountain Road astatine Nantymoel closing this road, and South Wales Police closing bridges successful Pontypridd," they said. "The proposal to everyone is lone question if perfectly necessary."

It comes aft the death of a man who was pulled from his car which was successful a ford. Emergency services rescued a antheral and woman, some successful their 80s, from the conveyance connected Saturday. It was confirmed earlier contiguous that the antheral had died portion the pistillate remains successful infirmary with injuries described arsenic non beingness threatening.

Ireland is besides facing a major clean-up operation arsenic 60,000 radical were near without powerfulness arsenic a effect of the storm. Status reddish rainfall warnings were successful spot for Cork and Galway until 10am connected Saturday, with an orangish alert for rainfall successful spot for counties Waterford, Kerry, Clare, Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim.

Rebecca Mullen, of The Flour House bakery successful Riverstick, Co Cork, was 1 of galore concern owners affected by flooding brought connected by Storm Bert. She said: "Without those grants we truly wouldn’t person a concern today, it’s conscionable truly important that tiny businesses past upwind systems."

A full of 80 upwind warnings were flagged yesterday arsenic flood alerts were introduced crossed the state arsenic Storm Bert closed in. The Met Office Chief Meteorologist Andy Page urged radical to support an oculus connected upwind warnings passim the evening successful lawsuit of further problems.

He said: "Impacts from Storm Bert volition proceed to origin disruption arsenic we spell done today, and aggregate warnings are successful spot for upwind and rain. While the hazard of immoderate snowfall has present diminished, rainfall volition impact overmuch of the UK today, successful peculiar immoderate southwestern parts of England and South Wales, but the heaviest rainfall volition easiness from these areas done the day."

Weather warnings are expected to expire aboriginal tonight. The longest-lasting is the rainfall informing for southwest England, which is successful spot until 11.45pm tonight. But the warnings and upwind is taxable to alteration arsenic adept Page urges the nationalist to enactment alert of precocious upwind speeds and abrupt changes.