Homes at risk as floods continue
Flooding misery is continuing as rising waters put thousands of people's homes at risk across the UK, including at a block of flats near Newcastle close to collapse.26 September 2012 Last updated at 14:52 GMT
UK floods: Homes at risk as misery continues
The foundations of a block of flats in Newburn near Newcastle could clearly be seen from the air
Flooding misery is continuing as rising waters put thousands of people's homes at risk around the UK.
A block of flats in Newburn near Newcastle has been evacuated and is said to be close to collapse.Tadcaster in North Yorkshire was split in two after flooding forced the closure of a major road bridge over the River Wharfe.
There are still 56 flood warnings and 105 flood alerts in England and Wales, and one flood alert in Scotland.
The Newburn flats' foundations were badly damaged after heavy rain deluged the area.
Mick Murphy, technical director of Newcastle City Council, said the Spencer Court flats were "extremely unstable" and they were waiting for a break in the weather so the damage could be assessed.
"I have never seen anything like this in 33 years of civil engineering experience," he said.
Continue reading the main story
Elsewhere:
Weather information
From the BBC:Elsewhere:
Flooding is still causing problems for roads, rail and buildings, as the most intense September storm for 30 years continues.
Some areas could receive a further 20-40mm (0.8-1.6ins) of
rain. However, the weather will slowly improve throughout the day,
forecasters said.On Wednesday parts of south Wales and southern and north-eastern England will bear the worst of Wednesday's heavy rain, with the "potential for local accumulations for 20mm-40mm," the Met Office said.
However, it added that "there remains uncertainty about exactly where the heaviest rain will fall".
Assistant Chief Constable Iain Spittal, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "The flooding situation across North Yorkshire continues to cause problems, with roads and the transport network affected.
"We are seeing an improving picture in parts of Hambleton and Richmondshire, although we still have lots of roads closed and all the agencies are working hard to get the A1 open again.
"However, the indication is that the A1 at Catterick will remain closed throughout the day with diversions in place."
The Environment Agency said it expected the River Ouse in York to peak at around midnight, just half a metre from breaching the city's flood defences, but it was monitoring the situation.
In other developments:
- A flood warning was issued for part of the River Severn in Gloucestershire at Tewkesbury, a town devastated by flooding in 2007. Water levels at the Mythe were expected to peak on Wednesday evening
- In north Wales, water levels were receding and train services were largely returning to normal, but the Environment Agency said river levels remained "dangerously high"
- Flood warnings were in place along the River Ouse in the York and Selby areas as water levels continued to rise
- Flooding was so deep in Castleford, West Yorkshire, that one man was able to bodyboard as he was pulled by a car driving down a street
- In West Yorkshire six flood warnings remained in place, along parts of the rivers Aire, Calder and Wharfe
- Train services in the north of England and parts of Scotland would still be disrupted, National Rail said. Trains between York and Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow were delayed by up to 30 minutes on Wednesday
- There was disruption on a couple of rail routes from Manchester after flooding, and delays between Blackpool North and Preston because of a landslip
- A landslip caused by flooding blocked trains from running between Chester and Crewe
- In Morpeth, Northumberland, homes were evacuated and about 40 residents were rescued by fire services after the River Wansbeck burst its banks
- Buses replaced trains between Harrogate and York due to flooding
- The North Sea foam that swept into Aberdeen during storms on Tuesday has now cleared
- Durham Police said the A1 (M) had reopened southbound, with 50mph advisory limit, but was still closed northbound at Leeming Bar
- London Road in Northwich town centre was closed amid fears the River Weaver would burst its banks. Sandbags were put down in an attempt to protect shops and businesses.
Oli Barrett: "A few drivers passed us smiling and giving us the thumbs"
He added: "When you've been flooded, you always worry about when it rains. Four years is a long time. At least we might be able to rest easily at night when it's raining."
Floods minister Richard Benyon, who will visit Morpeth later, said he understood the "frustration" the residents felt at a lack of action on flood defences.
BBC correspondent James Cook supplied this image of a car engulfed in Newburn
He defended the delays, saying arranging funding, planning permission and construction all took time.
"We have to make sure that the flood schemes we build are a good use of taxpayers' money and are effective in protecting the houses that they seek to defend," he said.
Tuesday saw some places deluged in what was their wettest September day on record, with hundreds of homes being evacuated.
Hundreds of people spent the night in temporary shelter and parts of many roads were closed.
More than 300 properties have flooded across the country since the storm began on Sunday, including in Morpeth, Durham, Chester-le-Street and Stockton, the Environment Agency said.
COPY http://www.bbc.co.uk
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário