Search helicopter airlifts 10 to safety when landslides bury roads in Scotland as a month of rain falls in one day
A search helicopter has airlifted 10 people to safety in Scotland after landslides have buried roads.
Motorists were trapped in between landslides in Argyll and Bute today, after a month of rainfall has fallen in just one day.
Flood warnings have been issued for a number of areas across Scotland amid rain which started today and is expected to continue into Sunday.
The alarm was raised at around 9.15am this morning after the Met Office published an amber weather warning for the region and stated that there could be a ‘danger to life.’
It said to expect homes and businesses to be flooded and damage to some buildings, danger to life from fast flowing or deep floodwater and delays or cancellations to train and bus services.
Motorists were trapped in between landslides in Argyll and Bute today, after a month of rainfall has fallen in just one day
Flood warnings have been issued for a number of areas across Scotland amid rain which started today and is expected to continue into Sunday
It also said to be prepared for power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses, for some communities cut off by flooded roads and for spray and flooding leading to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.
Mudslides have been reported on both the A83 and the A815, near Inveraray. HM Coastguard confirmed that it sent a search and rescue helicopter to attend and airlift 10 people to safety.
READ MORE: UK weather: Met Office issues ‘danger to life’ warning and rail companies tell customers not to travel as some areas face heavy rain – while other parts will as hot as Greece
A spokesperson told the Daily Record: ‘The HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick airlifted 10 people cut off by a landslide at the junction of the A815 and A83 near Inveraray on 7 October.
‘The alarm was raised at about 9.15am. The people were flown safe and well to Inveraray and met by the Inveraray Coastguard Rescue Team and provided with shelter.’
A Police Scotland spokesperson also told the outlet: ‘We were called to reports of multiple landslides on the A83 and A815 on the morning of Saturday, 7 October, 2023. A number of vehicles were stuck between the landslides.’
The police confirmed that emergency services attended to those who were stuck and that nobody was injured.
The force said that the road currently remains closed and urged drivers to avoid travel in and around the area.
Flooding has been particularly bad in in Dumbarton, Scotland, where residents were pictured using sand bags to stop the water getting into their home and also using a bucket to tip water out.
A tractor was snapped driving through the flood water and one woman was even pictured walking her dog in the torrential rain, as she wrapped up warm with a coat – a stark contrast to those in bikinis and swimsuits enjoying the sun down south.
Travel disruption is also expected, with ScotRail cancelling trains on a number of lines and the LNER line no longer going north of Newcastle.
ScotRail said there would not be replacement buses for the routes, including those between Perth and Inverness.
HM Coastguard confirmed that it sent a search and rescue helicopter to attend and airlift 10 people to safety
A member of the public has put sandbags by their door to keep the flood water out of their property in Dumbarton, Scotland
Two people wade through the flood water holding an umbrella and wearing wellies in Dumbarton, Scotland
Motorists struggle driving through the deep flood water in Dumbarton, Scotland today
The weather conditions will differ for the north and south of Britain, with some areas in Scotland facing ‘relentless’ rain and widespread flooding during the weekend, whereas areas in the south have been hit with a heatwave.
Tom Morgan, a Met Office meteorologist, said: ‘There is a huge contrast in weather across the UK, it’s very wet across much of Scotland where we have several weather warnings in place including an amber warning.
‘This could cause widespread disruption across the region such as flooded roads, the potential for landslides and issues with the trains as lines are being closed pre-emptively.
‘There could be a month’s worth of rain falling while for many other parts of the UK, Northern Ireland and Wales it’s unseasonably warm with temperatures of up to 25C and a small chance of 25C tomorrow.’
Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop said: ‘It’s important people plan their journeys before they set off.
‘Motorists should make sure their routes are available, follow the travel advice from Police Scotland and drive in accordance with the conditions.
‘If you are planning to travel by train, ferry or plane, please check with your operators to see if the conditions are having any impact on your services.’
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