Thousands across the UK battle floodwaters caused by Storm Bert

Homes and businesses have been flooded as Storm Bert continues to batter communities across the UK after passing over Ireland.

Hundreds of homeowners and businesses in England and Wales continued to battle the floodwaters on Monday morning after the second major storm of the winter brought widespread disruption.

Several rail operators cancelled services as more than 180 flood warnings remained in place following Storm Bert, which lashed the country with heavy rains and wind gusts of up to 130 km/h over the weekend.

According to emergency and environmental authorities, as much as 130 millimetres of rain fell in some areas, causing some rivers to overflow their banks and turning roads into waterways.

Residents angry at lack of preparedness by authorities

A severe flood warning, meaning there is danger to life, was issued early on Monday for areas near the River Nene in Northampton as water levels continued to rise.

Among the hardest hit areas were parts of Wales, where residents of Pontypridd tried to protect their homes by using buckets to bail water over a flood wall and back into the River Taff.

Several residents expressed their frustration with the authorities. “They should have put a flood defence in instead of a “Harry Potter fence”. Do your job. That’s what we pay them money for,” said one resident.

“As you can see, National Resources Wales have just replaced the railings back again; it doesn’t do anything. As soon as it goes, it comes through there again,” said another.

In North Wales, ten people were rescued from a house following a landslide caused by the extreme conditions.

The storm, described as a multi-hazard event, brought heavy rain, snow, and winds reaching speeds of up to 70 miles (113 kilometres) per hour.

Local officials in Hampshire said a man died when a tree fell on his car.

Power outages across UK

The storm caused widespread power outages across the UK, with nearly 27,000 homes in the Northeast, Yorkshire, and North Lincolnshire experiencing power cuts throughout Sunday.

The National Grid reported that an additional 4,000 homes in the Midlands, South West England, and South Wales were also without electricity.

In Ireland, at least 30,000 homes and businesses lost power due to the high winds, with counties in the west and northwest bearing the brunt of the outages.

Numerous flood alerts and warnings were issued by the Environment Agency. The wet weather is expected to inundate farmland, minor roads, and recreational areas, the agency warned.

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Scientists believe that the rise in extreme weather events is linked to climate change, which can make storms pick up more energy and increase wind speeds.

Video editor • Jerry Fisayo-Bambi