Two people were rescued after a taxi became trapped in deep floodwater on a rural road in Aberdeenshire, as heavy rainfall caused widespread disruption across parts of Scotland, according to the Daily Record.
Emergency crews were called to the B977 near Kintore at around 8.32am on Thursday after floodwater engulfed a minivan taxi, leaving its occupants unable to escape safely. Firefighters attended the scene with specialist equipment to carry out a water rescue.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service deployed a specialist water rescue unit. Firefighters successfully removed both occupants from the vehicle and escorted them to a place of safety before leaving the area once conditions were assessed as safe.
The incident occurred amid an amber weather warning issued by the Met Office, which warned that fast-flowing and deep floodwater posed a “danger to life”. The warning covers parts of Angus, Perth and Kinross, and Aberdeenshire until 6pm, with a wider yellow rain warning in force across much of north-east Scotland until late Friday.
Flooding has impacted major transport routes, including sections of the A9 and A85, while rail services have also been disrupted. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued multiple flood warnings and alerts, with rivers such as the Dee rising rapidly. In one widely shared clip, livestock were seen fleeing submerged fields as water levels surged.
DM Commentary
This incident is a stark reminder of just how dangerous floodwater can be — especially for drivers working early morning shifts in rural or semi-rural areas. For taxi and private hire drivers, flooded roads are one of the biggest hidden risks during extreme weather. What looks like a shallow stretch of water can quickly become deep enough to disable a vehicle or sweep it off course.
In this case, the occupants were fortunate that emergency services were able to respond quickly with specialist water-rescue equipment. However, not every situation ends as safely. Drivers should never attempt to drive through standing or flowing water, regardless of time pressure, fares, or local knowledge of the road.
With amber and yellow weather warnings becoming more frequent across the UK, operators and drivers alike need to take weather alerts seriously. Planning alternative routes, delaying journeys where possible, and keeping an eye on live traffic and flood warnings can make the difference between a delayed job and a life-threatening situation.
As storms and heavy rainfall events become more common, this is another example of why safety must always come before completing a job.
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