Today: 23 August 2025
4 January 2024
3 mins read

Hundreds of flood warnings after Storm Henk

In the East Midlands, floodwater either breached or surrounded several homes in Bottleacre Lane in Loughborough, Leicestershire, according to PA Media, leaving some people trapped inside their homes…reports Asian Lite News

Travel has been seriously disrupted after Storm Henk battered a large swathe of the UK, with hundreds of flood warnings still in place.

On Tuesday, a man in his 50s died after a tree fell on the car he was driving in Gloucestershire, police said. Large parts of England and Wales experienced strong winds and heavy rain during the storm.

More than 250 flood warnings are in place in England, while thousands of homes are without power.

At Billing Aquadrome, a leisure park in Northampton, and surrounding business units, hundreds of people were told to evacuate amid rising water levels from the River Nene, locals said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of properties near the River Severn in the West Midlands are flooded, in some cases for the fourth time this winter.

In the East Midlands, floodwater either breached or surrounded several homes in Bottleacre Lane in Loughborough, Leicestershire, according to PA Media, leaving some people trapped inside their homes.

In Tenby, a severe flood warning is in place along the River Ritec where there is a substantial risk to life and reports of raw sewage in floodwater.

Eight other flood warnings are in place across Wales, and one in Scotland.

There is likely to be little let-up in the wet weather; the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for rain across much of southern England from 12:00 GMT on Thursday until 03:00 on Friday.

The forecaster says further flooding, travel disruption and power cuts may occur. It comes as train services were slowly getting back on track after flooding and power failures on Tuesday and further disruption on some lines throughout Wednesday morning.

By Wednesday evening, Network Rail, which owns and manages the infrastructure, said the situation was “much improved” after fallen trees had disrupted several South Western services on Tuesday and overnight.

However, some lines remained blocked on Great Western Railway’s network and parts of Thameslink, Southern, and Great Northern services continued to face disruption while infrastructure repairs were being carried out.

The bad weather also uprooted trees and felled branches, causing treacherous conditions, power cuts and major road closures.

The Energy Networks Association, which collates data from all energy providers, said about 800 homes were without power as of Wednesday evening. Power went down in more than 107,000 other homes during Storm Henk but has since been restored.

On Tuesday, a man in his 50s from Bath, who has not yet been named, died after a tree fell on his car, police said. Emergency services were called to Tetbury Road near Kemble at about 15:15 GMT, but despite the best efforts of the paramedics, he died at the scene.

In Orpington, south-east London, a woman was taken to hospital after being struck by a falling tree. Her injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

One man told of the “nerve-wracking” moment a roof hatch on a London Eye pod began to blow off in the high winds, while he was 135 metres up in the air. “One guy was saying his prayers – he was very nervous indeed,” he said.

In Birmingham, Liam Stych was hailed a hero after jumping into floodwater to rescue a woman and her three-year-old daughter from a partially submerged car.

“I said to the woman, ‘now’s your time you know, take my hand and we can go’,” he said. “At that moment she just put her arms out to me for help.”

The strongest gusts on Tuesday were recorded at the Needles Old Battery – an exposed, unpopulated, coastal site in the Isle of Wight – reaching 94mph (151km/h). The biggest inland gust of 81mph (130km/h) was recorded at Exeter Airport.

The storm has now largely moved onto Scandinavia. Winds are forecast to be lighter and there will also be sunnier spells during the rest of the week.

Henk was the eighth named storm in three months. It was named much later than usual – hours before its impact – because it was small and still developing early on Tuesday.

ALSO READ-Malaysia Grapples with Devastating Floods

Previous Story

UAE Condemns Attack in Iranian City of Kerman

Next Story

New Laws Propel UAE’s 2024 Developmental Agenda

Latest from -Top News

US sanctions more ICC judges

Washington hits at The Hague with fresh sanctions on four ICC judges and prosecutors, including French and Canadian officials, over probes targeting Israel and US actions abroad….reports Asian Lite News The United

UAE Wows Osaka!

The UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka celebrates its three millionth visitor, blending culture, innovation, and hospitality in an immersive showcase of heritage, sustainability, and forward-looking global vision….reports Asian Lite News The

MBS & Sisi talk ties, Palestine

The two leaders reviewed the historic and strategic relations between Riyadh and Cairo and explored new ways to bolster cooperation…reports Asian Lite News Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister HRH Mohammed bin

Dubai’s startup supernova

Marking its 10th year, Expand North Star cements Dubai’s role as a global hub for digital innovation, uniting startups, unicorns, and investors to shape the future economy….reports Asian Lite News Expand North

Qatar: Syria’s stability key to region

Qatar, speaking for the Arab Group at the UN, urged unity and sovereignty for Syria as regional diplomacy, UN warnings, and fragile ceasefires highlight a precarious crossroads….reports Asian Lite News Qatar, speaking
Go toTop

Don't Miss

UK to hire 2,000 Indian doctors to staff NHS

While the initiative is seen by some as a solution

British Muslims to boycott Israeli dates  

The boycott movement has gained momentum in the UK over