Flood Victims Rescued As More Rain Forecast

Flood victims are facing a festive washout as many are forced out of their homes - and forecasters are predicting more rain is on the way.

Large parts of the UK have already been lashed with high winds and rain over the weekend, causing widespread flooding.

The South West of England, Wales and North East Scotland were worst affected, although the Midlands is also on high alert as flooding threatens to ruin Christmas for many.

Christmas preparations have been put on hold as people survey the damage to their homes while businesses and communities across the country are put on alert with hundreds of flood warnings remaining in place.

Emergency services helped several people who had been swept away in their cars and attended landslides brought down by the torrential rain.

A woman is rescued from flood water in Devon (pic: Devon & Cornwall Police)

In Umberleigh, near Barnstaple in Devon, a woman was rescued in an "heroic" effort by a lifeboat team after she clung on to the branches of a tree for 50 minutes.

She was spotted by a police helicopter using thermal imaging equipment after she was swept away from her car.

Another woman also had a lucky escape after being swept away in her car in Llancarfan, in the Vale of Glamorgan. She was saved from the vehicle just moments before her car was washed under the bridge and filled with water.

Homes in the North East of Scotland were also evacuated after being hit by significant flooding as heavy rain across the country resulted in road closures in Aberdeenshire and Tayside.

Dozens of people were evacuated from up to 100 properties in Stonehaven, and Grampian Police said some were expected to be out of their homes for between 12 and 24 hours.

Meanwhile in Wales, torrential rain brought down tonnes of mud and rock into the village of Ystalyfera, near Swansea, overnight. Terraced houses were also evacuated in Pontypridd when a 20ft wall collapsed.

RNLI flood rescue teams across Devon and Cornwall have been helping people and animals to safety using in-shore lifeboats while fire crews use high volume pumps to clear water away from properties.

Flooding in Stonehaven. Aberdeenshire, (Pic: COLINTHIRD1969)

Families in Braunton, North Devon, who were effectively cut off after the River Caen twice burst its banks, are again placing sandbags outside their homes and businesses this evening as they prepare for more rain.

The flooding overwhelmed a new £1.2 million flood defence scheme wiping out Christmas plans for many of the residents.

Diane Cohen, 63, runs the flood hit Mariners Arms pub on South Street with her husband.

She said: "If you go into the middle of the village all you can see is people with their belongings out on the pavements, mopping up and cleaning up behind them. It's like a disaster zone."

And flooding problems in Devon spread across the county to the village of Stoke Canon, near Exeter, after the River Exe also burst its banks.

The Environment Agency said 20 properties have been flooded and people from 25 homes were being moved to safety by emergency services.

Stoke Canon resident Alan Whitehead told the BBC: "It's hard because it's Christmas, it's just two days away, so it's really hard."

Engineers work on the flooded railway line in Exeter (pic: Mike Yearworth)

Flooding minister Richard Benyon said: "It's terrible to have your home or business flooded at any time of year but for the families affected it's especially distressing for it to happen during the Christmas season."

Despite a brief respite in the torrential downpours today, residents will be watching nervously as more rain is predicted from overnight.

At traditionally the busiest time of year, business owners spent today desperately trying to clear up. 

Meanwhile, residents unable to return to their homes face spending the festive period in temporary accommodation or with relatives.

There was also widespread travel disruption as water engulfed train lines near Exeter, Devon and dozens of minor roads flooded as swathes of countryside remain under water.

The Met Office today issued a yellow warning for rain on Christmas Day, covering Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon and Somerset.

The Environment Agency still has one severe flood warning - meaning there is "danger to life" - in place for the River Cober at Helston in west Cornwall, after heavy rainfall overnight.

There are currently 160 flood warnings, urging people to take immediate action, across the UK, with the most in the south west and the Midlands, and 286 flood alerts.

Residents in Braunton, Devon, prepare for more rain and possible flooding

Sky's weather presenter Jo Wheeler, said: "Christmas Eve will be dull and wet for much of England and Wales, with extensive cloud, showers, and longer spells of rain. 

"More persistent rain will make a return to south-eastern areas through the evening, and this will clear early on Christmas Day - to leave a day of sunny spells and scattered showers".

In the Midlands, the Environment Agency has described the situation as "a big winter flood" with levels in places on the river Severn as high as they have been since the summer 2007 storms.

On parts of the river Trent in Derbyshire, river levels are well above six metres and are expected to peak into tomorrow.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Flood Victims Rescued As More Rain Forecast

Dengan url

https://juarapageone.blogspot.com/2012/12/flood-victims-rescued-as-more-rain.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Flood Victims Rescued As More Rain Forecast

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Flood Victims Rescued As More Rain Forecast

sebagai sumbernya