Party boat sinks in London during severe weather, U.K.
A party boat sank on the River Thames in London, U.K. due to severe weather conditions affecting the country on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
Parts of Europe are facing an extreme weather start to the new year, with a mix of devastating floods and cold snaps wreaking havoc across the region. The UK, in particular, has issued hundreds of flood warnings following heavy rainfall that has battered large parts of the country.
Among the incidents, a party boat sank on the River Thames in London, with owners citing adverse weather conditions as the likely cause. The boat, which was moored at Temple Pier, had about 50 people when it sank on Thursday as rain battered the capital. The UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency has confirmed that all individuals were accounted for following the incident.
In East London, approximately 70 firefighters were mobilized to tackle flooding after a canal breach on Thursday evening. The situation is dire across the UK, with Nottinghamshire declaring a major incident due to rising river levels along the River Trent, threatening to reach or surpass record highs.
A total of 302 flood warnings remained in place across England on Friday, with forecasters predicting showers could continue. Great Western Rail said “major disruption” was expected on its train services until the end of Friday, as flooding shut several of its routes.
The event comes just days after severe disruption caused by strong winds and rain produced by Storm Henk. The storm is blamed for the death of at least one person.
The adverse conditions extend beyond the UK, with northern France experiencing intense flooding. The Pas-de-Calais department, in particular, was placed under “red alert” for flooding by Météo France, although it was later downgraded to an orange alert. Local authorities have urged residents to take precautions, advising against unnecessary travel and proximity to waterways.
References:
1 Party boat sinks in London as Europe grapples with deadly flooding in some countries, extreme cold in others – CNN – January 5, 2024
Featured image credit: Thames News (stillshot)
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