Storm Ali: Two dead after 100mph winds lash UK and Ireland

Woman thrown from cliff in caravan and man killed by falling tree as raging winds batter country

Two people have been killed after Storm Ali swept across the UK and Ireland, bringing torrential rain and winds of more than 100mph.

A woman died after a caravan was blown off a cliff on Ireland’s west coast as she slept inside.

A workman was also killed by a falling tree in a country park. The man in his 20s, was a contractor for Northern Ireland Water.

His colleague, a man in his 40s, was also injured after the tree was torn from ground in Slieve Gullion Park in County Armagh.

The Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation.

The body of the woman in her 50s was found during a search of a beach on Ireland’s west coast.

Police said the caravan was lifted by strong winds and blown down a 15ft cliff at Claddaghduff village, near Clifden in County Galway. Pictures showed the caravan smashed to pieces on the rocks below.

The fatalities came as raging winds battered much of the UK, leaving tens of thousands of homes without power and causing widespread travel disruption.

Authorities in Dumfries and Galloway, southwest Scotland, declared a “major incident” and warned of a “serious risk to life”.

Schoolchildren were stopped from walking home after several people were injured by flying debris. Teachers stayed late to supervise pupils after school buses were suspended due to hazardous roads.

More than 70,000 homes were left without power across Scotland, while 250,000 properties in Ireland suffered electricity outages as lines toppled.

Rail, roads, flights and ferry services were all severely affected by the storm in Scotland and Ireland.

Gusts of 102.2mph hit Dundee’s Tay Road Bridge, forcing its complete closure to traffic. Restrictions were also put in place on the Forth Road Bridge, Clackmannanshire Bridge and Queensferry Crossing.

Elsewhere, tug boats were called to a cruise ship which slipped its berth in Greenock. Strong winds caused the Nautica vessel – which had 478 passengers and 26 crew – leave the dock after its mooring lines parted. There were no reports of injuries.

In Crewe, Cheshire, a woman was seriously injured after a tree fell on her car, trapping her inside.

Rescue teams winched a man out of a ravine after he was thrown out of a digger during high winds in Rogart, the Highlands.

North Yorkshire Police said it had dealt with an incident on the roads every three minutes on Wednesday afternoon. The 81 call-outs between noon and 4pm include roads being blocked by fallen trees and storm-related car crashes.

A Met Office amber warning was in place across Scotland, Northern Ireland, north England and northwest Wales throughout the day.

The alert warned that flying debris was likely and could lead to injuries or danger to life. It was downgraded to a yellow warning on Wednesday night as Storm Ali edged away from the UK.

Ali was the first named storm of the season. The name was drawn from a list compiled by the Met Office and Met Eireann using public submissions.