Power cuts, train cancellations as Storm Darragh batters UK

Tens of thousands of people across the UK woke up without power on Saturday morning after Storm Darragh lashed the country with fierce winds and heavy rain, causing widespread pre-Christmas disruption.

The Met Office had issued a rare red alert for high winds overnight, covering parts of Wales and southwest England, warning residents to stay indoors.

The government’s emergency alert system sent siren-like messages to three million phones in the affected areas on Friday night.

Gusts of nearly 90 mph battered the west of Wales and northwest England, with waves crashing dramatically along coastal areas like Porthcawl.

In Wales alone, over 50,000 people were left without electricity, while the Energy Networks Association reported power cuts affecting 86,000 homes across England, Scotland, and Wales.