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Storm Boelo hits Scotland: man killed, power cuts

Strong winds halted transport and left tens of thousands of households without electricity.

Storm Boelo hit large parts of Scotland and northern England on Sunday. A man was killed by a falling tree, while around 40,000 Scottish customers were without power and transport was disrupted in several places.

The storm brought heavy rain and very strong winds to the north of the United Kingdom. According to the British weather service Met Office, gusts of up to around 135 kilometres per hour were recorded in Argyll and Bute. According to the Met Office, an amber warning was in force for parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England.

In Dumfries and Galloway, a 60-year-old man was hit by a falling tree on Sunday. He was pronounced dead at the scene, Police Scotland reported, according to British media. Police said there were no indications of suspicious circumstances and that a report would be sent to the public prosecutor.

The Scottish government reported on Sunday afternoon that around 40,000 customers were still without power. At the same time, around 26,000 connections had been restored. Strong winds made the work of repair crews more difficult; restoration work could be carried out as soon as it was safe to do so.

The Scottish government also reported disruption to traffic: roads were blocked by fallen trees and some locations experienced flooding. Train, ferry and air services were delayed or cancelled. The Scottish government urged travellers to check official traffic information and notices from transport operators.

According to Associated Press, around 82,000 homes in the United Kingdom were affected by power cuts at the peak. According to Associated Press, the effects were worst in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England. The news agency also reported that the storm followed Storm Austen, which had mainly affected southern England earlier in the weekend.

The warnings for Sunday expired in the evening, but Scottish authorities warned that worse weather could return later in the week. The government therefore continued crisis talks and stressed that restoring infrastructure could take time.

For the Netherlands, the effects on travel routes and the broader European discussion about resilience are particularly relevant. There is no indication that Storm Boelo directly caused major damage in the Netherlands. The precise extent of the damage in the United Kingdom will be assessed further in the coming days.

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