Britain faces more flash flood misery: Lightning strike sparks major blaze at hospital
Britain faces more flash flood misery: Lightning strike sparks major blaze at hospital and sets house on fire as hail sweeps midlands with warnings of thunder and heavy showers for the rest of the week
- Firefighters were called to Trafford Hospital this afternoon after roof caught ablaze following lightning strike
- Rescue Services were also called to Merseyside after a house caught on fire following a lightning strike
- Thunderstorms and torrential downpours sweep across much of UK with up to three inches of rain forecast
- Met Office warns rain could be so heavy that it might spark power cuts and leave some communities cut off
- Many areas of northern England and Scotland under ‘yellow’ warning with ‘amber’ alert in place for Highlands
- Heavy showers will continue throughout this week but sunny spells should break through the gloom at times
Danger to life warnings were issued across parts of Britain today as storms cause more havoc, including a lightning on Trafford General Hospital which resulted in a number of patients being evacuated to safety.
Firefighters were called to the blaze on the roof of a building at the Manchester hospital at 2.20pm this afternoon.
They took nearly hours to get the blaze under control, finally extinguishing it at 4.15pm.
In a statement, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: ‘Just after 2.20pm this afternoon, seven fire engines were called to reports of a fire at a building on Moorside Road in Flixton.
‘Crews were quickly on the scene, joined by the aerial ladder platform from Manchester Central fire station, and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are currently using two hose reels and a jet to tackle a fire involving the roof of a two-storey building.
Firefighters were called to the blaze on the roof of a building at the Manchester hospital at 2.20pm this afternoon
Crews are at the fire on Arncliffe Road, Halewood, where the roof of a house caught alight in the extreme weather
In a statement, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: ‘Just after 2.20pm this afternoon, seven fire engines were called to reports of a fire at a building on Moorside Road in Flixton’
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust confirmed the hospital was struck by lightning which caused a fire in an area of the roof.
It added that patients and staff had been safely evacuated.
It comes as a house in Halewood, Merseyside, caught alight after also being struck by lightning.
Firefighters are currently fighting the house fire on Arncliffe Road.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Services said all occupants of the house have been accounted for but the incident is ongoing.
Witnesses said the blaze broke out this afternoon after the hospital on Moorside road was struck by lightning. Pictured, the scene which shows smoke bellowing out of the top of the hospital
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust confirmed the hospital was struck by lightning which caused a fire in an area of the roof
A witness who lives in nearby flats said she was on the fourth floor and saw the ‘massive flash’ of lightning that hit the house.
She told the Liverpool Echo: ‘Basically I was sitting in the flat, on the fourth floor just over the road, and thunder and lightning was going on then next minute there was a massive flash and bang.
‘I said ‘what the hell is that?’. I knew it wasn’t normal lightning because it was like an explosion. It was an explosive bang. I thought it was an explosion.
‘Then we seen through the window the smoke pouring out of the house.’
The woman, who didn’t want to be named, said that the damage is visible and is mainly on the roof. She added: ‘I can see the damage from binoculars, it’s all on the roof. It looks like the lightning stuck the roof and went down through the house.
Pictured, the fire on Arncliffe Road, Halewood, where the roof of the house is alight following a lightning strike. A spokesman has said all occupants of the house have been accounted for
A Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: ‘Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using hose reel jets to extinguish the fire. The combined platform ladder is being used to fight the fire from above’
‘I thought it might even be a gas explosion at first because the bang was terrible. I just thought I hope everyone is ok.’
A Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: ‘Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using hose reel jets to extinguish the fire. The combined platform ladder is being used to fight the fire from above.
‘A structural engineer has been requested to attend the incident.’
Britain today faced flash floods as forecasters warned of more than three inches of rain and a ‘danger to life’.
Thunderstorms and torrential downpours swept across much of the country today with the Met Office warning the rain could be so heavy that it might spark power cuts and leave some communities cut off.
Many areas of northern England and Scotland were under a ‘yellow’ weather warning this afternoon and evening with a more severe ‘amber’ warning in place for the Highlands amid fears over ‘fast flowing or deep floodwater’.
Up to 3.1in (80mm) is expected to fall in the worst-hit areas and heavy showers will continue throughout this week, but meteorologists added that sunny spells will break through the gloom at times.
Pedestrians jump over a puddle as they try to cross the road during heavy rain in Central London this afternoon
People stand under an umbrella as they are caught in torrential downpours on Whitehall in Westminster today
Pedestrians are caught in heavy downpours in Westminster today after much of the UK was placed under a weather warning
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has imposed 15 flood alerts for areas including Dundee, Aberdeenshire and Fife, while England’s Environment Agency put out one alert on the Isle of Wight.
Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington said: ‘Yellow warnings are in place across much of the UK, away from the south, for thunderstorms and heavy rain over the coming days. Scotland, however, is expected to see some of the heaviest rain and amber warnings for thunderstorms and also rain have been issued here.’
Stephen Dixon, a Met Office spokesman, said: ‘The rain can cause potential flooding and travel disruption. There is the potential for 80mm to 100mm over 24 hours, but more likely 60mm more widely across that amber area.
‘There can possibly be lightning and hail in areas of Scotland. Not everywhere within the warning areas will see heavy rain, rainfall amounts will vary from place to place. The rainfall could lead to some surface water flooding and disruption before it eases and moves south through Thursday.’
A pedestrian jumps over a puddle as they cross the road during heavy rain in London this afternoon
People shelter under umbrellas during heavy torrential downpours in Westminster this morning
People jump over a puddle as they cross the road during torrential downpours in Central London this afternoon
Flash flooding on Ormskirk Road in Aintree, Merseyside, as the Met Office issued weather warnings across Britain
Over the past few weeks, rain has battered the UK, particularly in London where areas including Walthamstow, Woodford and Stepney Green have seen severe flooding.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said yesterday that following a meeting with the Environment Agency, London’s boroughs and other key partners, he will be doing all that he can to tackle flooding and climate change.
He said: ‘Through the new London Plan, we’re now reducing the risk of surface water flooding with every new development, but whether it’s prioritising more green spaces to help absorb excess water or investing more in upgrading our drainage and sewer infrastructure, dealing with the impacts of climate change is something that cannot wait a day longer.’
On the roads, the RAC and Highways England have advised drivers to be cautious in the rain. They warned motorists to leave a larger gap than normal between the car in front of them when stopping.
