Storm Arwen leaves two dead in UK, triggers power cuts

LONDON (Reuters) – At least two people died and tens of thousands were left without power as Storm Arwen brought strong winds across many parts of the United Kingdom, with gusts of up to 100 miles per hour (160 kph).

One man died in Northern Ireland’s County Antrim when his car was struck by a falling tree on Friday evening, police said in a statement. Local media reported the man was the principal of a primary school.

Another man was killed in Cumbria in the northwest of England when he was hit by a falling tree, police said.

Gusts of 98 mph hit Brizlee Wood in Northumberland, northeastern England, according to the Met Office, which said yellow warnings remained in place on Saturday across much of the country.

“Many roads remain closed so please only travel if absolutely necessary,” it said on Twitter.

More than 100,000 customers were without power, Northern Powergrid, which delivers electricity to properties in the North East of England and Yorkshire, said on Saturday morning.

Engineers were also working to restore supplies in Scotland and southern England.

P&O Ferries said it had been forced to halt sailing between Northern Ireland and Scotland.

(Reporting by Costas Pitas, Ian Graham and Conor Humphries; Editing by Frances Kerry and Clelia Oziel)