Storm Boelo leaves about 90,000 UK properties without power
On Monday around 90,000 properties across the UK remain without electricity after Storm Boelo, which killed two men when trees fell. Bad weather is slowing efforts to restore the network.
A clean-up is under way in parts of the UK after Storm Boelo caused flooding and property damage. The Energy Networks Association (ENA), the body representing the country's energy network operators, said about 90,000 properties were still without power on Monday.
Two men were killed by falling trees during the storm on Sunday: a man in his 20s in north London and a 60-year-old man in Dumfries and Galloway, in western Scotland. In London, the man was pronounced dead after a tree hit the car he was driving.
Boelo is the second storm to hit parts of the UK in recent days, following Storm Austen, which caused similar disruption. Strong winds and rain were forecast to continue on Monday.
Restoration efforts
ENA chief executive Leo Slade told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it had been "a tough weekend". He said efforts to reconnect some properties were being hampered by sustained winds of 50–85mph across parts of Scotland and northern England. Until the weather passes, engineers cannot safely be sent out to replace poles and restring wires. Slade stressed that the UK power network is very resilient and that money is spent preparing for such scenarios, but said a debate is needed on how much more investment is required to mitigate further storms brought by climate change.
Impact on businesses and schools
Homeowners and local businesses have been affected. Marcus Reed, operations director at home fragrance manufacturer Wax Lyrical, said its factory and shop in Lindal, Cumbria, would be without power until Tuesday evening. He has had to turn away employees and customers. Reed said losing two days of manufacturing and distribution would be very disruptive, particularly as it is the company's busiest time of year ahead of Christmas.
Travel disruption continued on Monday, and some schools in Scotland were closed. Five primary schools in Aberdeenshire shut because of a lack of power, while Ellon Academy was closed because of storm damage.
