Storm Imogen: Huge Waves Batter British Coast As 100mph Winds Pound South Of England And Wales

These Huge Waves Show The Sheer Force Of Mother Nature

Huge waves measuring up to 19.1m (63ft) pounded seaside towns across the UK on Monday as Storm Imogen brought gusts of nearly 100mph.

Sections of the British coastline were hit by gale force winds and torrential downpours as the Environment Agency issued 62 flood warnings requiring immediate action for parts of the south west, south east and Wales.

There are a further 204 alerts in place where flooding is possible. The Met Office issued amber warnings for much of the south west and there is a yellow warning of gusts throughout Monday stretching from southern Wales to the Thames Estuary.

More than 15,000 homes have been left without power, while rail services and cross-Channel ferries were disrupted or cancelled.

Two children were airlifted to hospital on Monday morning after a garden wall collapsed on them in the Worcestershire village of Bretforton near Evesham. The boy and girl, aged five and seven, suffered serious leg injuries and were flown to hospital for treatment, the Press Association reports.

A father and daughter near Exeter in Devon also reportedly had a lucky escape when a 100ft (30.5m) tree was blown onto their car parked outside their house, minutes before they were about to leave to travel to school.

There is also a search underway for an RSPCA inspector who went missing after responding to a call to help rescue dozens of gannets stranded on rocks at a Cornish beach.

Inspector Mike Reid went missing after travelling out to Porthchapel Beach near Penzance on Sunday.

Travel has been severely disrupted across parts of the country, with road closures and delays to rail services.

The EA's Jonathan Day warned: "Storm Imogen will lead to large waves and spray along the south and south-west coastal parts of England on Sunday night and Monday. We understand it is tempting to see the force of Mother Nature but people should take extreme care on coastal paths and not put themselves and rescue workers at risk."

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