UK army joins rescue teams amid severe flooding
Posted December 06, 2015 6:00 am
LONDON (AP) - Britain's army has been called in to help people evacuate from their homes as stormy weather left parts of the country severely flooded.
Storm Desmond has dumped heavy rain and strong winds across Britain, especially in northwestern Cumbria, known for its Lake District, and in Scotland. About 60,000 homes in northern regions have been left without power and electricity.
Many rivers burst their banks and in some streets cars have been almost entirely submerged. Rescue teams helped ferry those forced to leave their homes with boats.
In London, police say a 90-year-old man died after he was believed to have been blown into the side of a moving bus by a gust of wind.
A woman is helped through flood waters by members of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute and the armed forces following flooding in Carlisle north west England, Sunday Dec. 6, 2015. The Environment Agency declared 130 flood warnings, while residents in some areas were evacuated from their homes. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT
The Associated Press
Margaret McCraken, 79, is helped from her home in Carlisle, north west England, through the floods by members of the armed forces who have been called in to help evacuate people who wish to move, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. The Environment Agency declared 130 flood warnings, while residents in some areas were evacuated from their homes. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT
The Associated Press
A family and their dog are rescued by the coastguard on Warwick Road in the center of Carlisle after heavy rain from Storm Desmond tore through Britain, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. Authorities in Britain have closed roads, evacuated homes and issued severe flood warnings as stormy weather hits the country. Weather forecaster the Met Office issued its highest red rain warning for northwest England and southwest Scotland, as the storm brings strong winds and heavy, persistent rain to those regions. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT
The Associated Press
Flooded roads in the centre of Appleby, north west England, as Storm Desmond hits the United Kingdom, Saturday Dec. 5, 2015. Roads have been closed throughout the North and Scotland as Storm Desmond caused road chaos, landslides and flooding. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT
The Associated Press
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