Brechin residents worst fears confirmed as River South Esk breaches flood defences

The river burst its banks around 4am this morning

Rescue teams in Brechin
Author: Kara ConwayPublished 20th Oct 2023
Last updated 20th Oct 2023

After hundreds of people in Angus spent a night away from home after being evacuated, Scotland may not have seen the worst of Storm Babet.

A rare red weather warning is in place across Angus and parts of Dundee and Perth until midday - meaning there is a 'danger to life'.

A 57-year-old woman has died after being swept into the Water of Lee at Glen Esk yesterday.

Meanwhile, the River South Esk in Brechin has burst its banks overnight.

Angus Council has previously said the river's flood defences are designed to deal with levels of 3.8m, but the water could reach 5m.

The local authority has said Angus is in the middle of a very serious emergency and that rescue crews are now dealing with around 100 calls from areas which were asked to evacuate yesterday evening.

More than 20-thousand homes were cut off yesterday - SSEN engineers managed to get most people re-connected, but there've been more power lines down overnight.

The storm also caused coastal flooding and a huge amount of sea foam in Stonehaven

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