Emergency Services Rescue Three from Flooded Vehicles as Torrential Rain Hits Scotland
Parts of northern Scotland are grappling with significant flooding after persistent heavy rainfall, leading to the rescue of three individuals from their vehicles by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The Met Office has maintained active weather warnings across the region, with an amber alert specifically targeting Perth and Kinross, Angus, and Aberdeenshire until 6pm on Thursday.
Widespread Weather Warnings and Flood Alerts
In addition to the amber warning, a broader yellow warning for rain covers extensive areas further north and west, remaining in effect until 11.59pm on Friday. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has issued a total of 27 flood warnings, impacting locations including Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Dundee, Angus, Orkney, the Scottish Borders, and Tayside. A further seven less-severe flood alerts are also active in these same regions.
Sepa has cautioned that river levels are rising, with flooding impacts likely in parts of Tayside, the Angus hills, and south Aberdeenshire. Low-lying land, roads, transport infrastructure, and properties are all at risk. More localised river flooding is also possible in other areas, such as Dumfries and Galloway and parts of the Scottish Borders.
Vehicle Rescues in Aberdeenshire
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service reported two separate incidents in Aberdeenshire on Thursday morning. At approximately 8.30am, firefighters were called to the B977 near Kintore, where a minibus had become immobilised in floodwater. One fire appliance and a specialist water rescue unit attended the scene, successfully removing two people from the vehicle and taking them to safety.
In a concurrent incident near Banchory, emergency services were alerted at 8.32am to a car trapped in flood water near the B976. Two fire appliances and specialist water rescue units responded, extracting one casualty from the car. The individual was guided to safety and subsequently assessed at the scene by the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Travel Disruption and Official Warnings
The adverse weather has caused considerable travel disruption across the affected areas. Bear Scotland has warned of issues on roads, including flooding on the A85 between Crieff and Lochearnhead in Perthshire, though the route remains accessible with caution. Network Rail has indicated that the River Tay has risen significantly, potentially leading to cancellations on services between Pitlochry and Dunkeld and Birnam in Perthshire if conditions deteriorate.
Ferry operator CalMac has cancelled numerous services, with further delays or short-notice cancellations possible. First Minister John Swinney, who is an MSP for Perthshire, urged residents to exercise care, stating on social media that conditions are very challenging with some roads closed and an increased flooding danger.
Government Response and Continued Vigilance
The Scottish Government's Resilience Room (SgoRR) convened a meeting to discuss the flooding situation and coordinate the response. Justice Secretary Angela Constance, who chaired the meeting, emphasised that while the amber warning is set to expire, heavy rain is forecast to continue in many parts of Scotland over the coming days, posing potential travel disruption.
Constance stated that although no significant issues have been reported thus far, authorities are closely monitoring rivers, many of which are expected to peak later today. Multi-agency response teams remain on standby to address any flooding incidents. The public is urged to pay close attention to flood alerts, weather forecasts, and local travel updates.
