STORM DESMOND CAUSES MAJOR DISRUPTIONS IN UK

London, 26 Shafar 1437/8 December (MINA) –  The body of an old man has been found by rescue teams in River Kent in Kendal in northwestern England amid one of the worst floods to hit the U.K. in recent years, police said Monday afternoon.

More than 2,500 homes were flooded in Cumbria after record rainfall caused by Storm Desmond and rescue teams are still struggling to evacuate residents from the region, Anadolu Agency reports as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

 British Prime Minister David Cameron called a cabinet meeting Monday morning to evaluate the aftermath of Storm Desmond in northern England and southern Scotland that hit the region over the weekend.

Cameron is also expected to visit some of the worst-hit regions, local media reports.

More than 5,000 homes were flooded as Desmond battered northern U.K. with heavy rainfalls and strong gusts since Friday. British army was mobilized to evacuate at least 5,000 people from their flooded homes.

Thousands of homes in the area were also without electricity. As many as 13,000 homes were still waiting for their power to be put back on across Cumbria and Lancaster.

Schools were closed and hospital services remain suspended in the area. Lancaster University said that it was suspending classes until the new year.

Thousands of people were forced to spend Sunday night at temporary shelters due to the extreme flooding in Cumbria and Scotland border area.

Commuters too were warned as some railway links into the region reported major disruptions because of floodwaters on tracks.

Road services were also badly disrupted.

The current floods are said to be the worst in the U.K. in 10 years as some areas received record high rainfalls. (T/P010/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)