Woman swept into the River Don amid severe weather warning

A woman was swept into the River Don in Aberdeenshire while trying to rescue a dog amid a severe weather warning.

Emergency services attended the scene, close to Monymusk, at around 3.20pm on Friday following concern for a person in the water.

The Aberdeen Coastguard was stood down in the search just after 6pm, according to reports.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Around 3.05pm on Friday, November 18, police were called to the River Don near to Monymusk following a report of concern for a woman in the water.

“Police and emergency services attended and searches were carried out.

“Following assessments of the river conditions, the search has been stood down for the evening.

“Police enquiries are ongoing.”

There was significant disruption after parts of Scotland experienced a month’s worth of rainfall in just a few hours.

A warning was issued by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) of the risk to life caused by fast-flowing, deep floods.

An amber weather warning covering Tayside, Fife, Grampian and central areas is in place until 9pm on Friday.

The Met Office also indicated that power cuts and the loss of other services are possible.

There has also been disruption on ScotRail services in the eastern and northern parts of Scotland.

Vincent Fitzsimmons, flood duty manager for SEPA, said: “Heavy and persistent rain overnight has led to significant increases in river levels across the east of Scotland.

“We have seen almost a month’s worth of rain in some parts already this week and we are expecting around the same again over the course of Friday and Saturday in parts of north east Scotland.

“The highest risk is to riverside communities in parts of Aberdeenshire and Angus, with severe flood warnings already issued.

“The worst impacts will occur between early Friday afternoon and early Saturday morning.

“We are working 24/7 with the Met Office and with information from SEPA’s gauge network to review the flood predictions for these communities and others. This will continue until the risk is over.

“SEPA is working with emergency response partners in the areas most at risk to help them prepare and to focus support to those communities who need it most.

“People living and working in affected areas are advised to plan their essential journeys and consider the steps they need to take now to be prepared and to stay safe.

“They can also keep updated on https://www.floodlinescotland.org.uk/