Police searching for a woman reportedly swept into a Scots river as she tried to rescue a dog have stood down their search on Friday.
Officers say the search of the River Don at Monymusk has been temporarily halted following an assessment of the river conditions during high winds and heavy rains that have poured a month's worth of rainfall on Aberdeenshire in 36 hours. Cops and Coastguard teams were called to the riverside shortly after 3pm following reports of a person in the water.
Sky News and the PA news agency have reported that the woman may have been trying to retrieve a dog when she was swept into the river. A spokesperson for the Aberdeen Coastguard confirmed earlier on Friday that a "police-led" search was underway in the area.
Six hours on, rescue teams have brought their search efforts to an end for the day after assessing the river's treacherous conditions. Enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 3.05pm on Friday, 18 November, 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.”
Parts of Aberdeenshire have been placed on high alert during the furious weather conditions, with the Met Office issuing an amber 'danger to life' alert for the north east region and a yellow 'be aware' warning for the entire Scottish east coast. Aberdeenshire Council has opened rest centres for people unable to get home in Ballater, Kemnay and Inverurie.
The local authority has also been supplying residents with sandbags to protect their homes from rising waters after several rivers and burns burst their banks. In the meantime, engineers from SSEN have been making repairing across the region following a series of power cuts, while east coast rail services south of Edinburgh have been canned due to flooding.
Police Scotland has urged motorists only to travel where absolutely necessary, and to pack blankets and food should they become stranded while on the road.
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