A man has died after being struck by a falling tree in south-west Scotland as Storm Boelo swept across the UK, bringing damaging gusts, flooding and widespread power cuts.
The incident, which police said occurred on a minor road at Mid Kelton near Castle Douglas at about 10:30am on Sunday, left a 60-year-old man pronounced dead at the scene. Police Scotland said there were "no suspicious circumstances" and that a report would be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.
"We were made aware of a 60-year-old man having been struck by a falling tree on a minor road at Mid Kelton near Castle Douglas"
Widespread outages and travel disruption
Storm conditions have cut power to large swathes of the country. More than 160,000 properties remained without electricity as the storm continued to batter parts of the UK, with central and southern Scotland among the worst affected.
Network operator SP Energy Networks reported at least 6,000 homes without supply in its central and southern Scotland areas. On the Inner Hebridean island of Tiree, the Met Office recorded gusts of up to 82mph in the early hours of the morning; elsewhere gusts reached as high as 84mph.
Overnight downpours caused localised flooding and added to travel disruption across Scotland, the north of England, North Wales and Northern Ireland, with coastal communities reporting rapidly rising water levels and roads submerged.
- Fatality: 60-year-old man struck by falling tree at Mid Kelton near Castle Douglas.
- Power cuts: over 160,000 properties affected nationwide; at least 6,000 in SP Energy Networks area.
- Peak gusts: up to 84mph recorded; Tiree saw 82mph.
Warnings remain in force
The Met Office kept amber wind warnings active until 9pm on Sunday for Scotland and the far north of England, saying the storm could pose a "danger to life" from flying debris and large waves. An amber warning for the north coast of Northern Ireland was lifted around lunchtime, but a yellow wind warning remained in place across the north of England and North Wales.
Forecasters also signalled further unsettled conditions into the start of the week, with a yellow warning for wind issued for Tuesday affecting Scotland and the north coast of Northern Ireland.
Communities report flooding and damage
Several towns reported rapid flooding as gusts and rain combined to drive water onto streets. In Largs, to the west of Glasgow, residents described Main Street turning into a river; one trader said the water reached its "highest level ever". Local authorities were responding to reports of damage and flooding across coastal and low-lying areas.
Emergency services and network operators have been mobilised to respond to incidents and restore supplies. Drivers and residents were urged to stay indoors where possible while the amber warnings remain in force and to avoid coastal promenades and exposed routes.
| Metric | Reported |
|---|---|
| Deaths | 1 (60-year-old man) |
| Properties without power | Over 160,000 |
| Highest recorded gusts | Up to 84mph (Tiree 82mph) |
Transport operators warned of likely delays and cancellations, particularly on exposed routes and ferry services, as the impact of high winds and flooding was assessed. Residents were reminded to follow local authority advice and to check with energy suppliers for updates on restoration times.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal tree strike and will submit a report to the Procurator Fiscal. Meanwhile, communities in the north and west of the UK prepare for further windy and wet weather early in the week as the storm system moves through.
