A major incident has been declared in South Wales as Storm Bert continues to wreak havoc, with between 200 and 300 properties affected by severe flooding.
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, South Wales Fire and Rescue, Natural Resources Wales and South Wales Police announced the emergency status earlier today.
The impact is expected to be more significant than that of Storm Dennis in 2020, according to council officials.
Rest centres have been established at Pontypridd Library, Ystrad Sports Centre, Sobell Leisure Centre and Cynon Valley Indoor Bowls Centre for impacted residents.
Firefighters pumping water from a street by the River Taff, in Pontypridd, Wales, following flooding
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The River Taff flooding in Pontypridd
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Councillor Andrew Morgan, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Borough Council, expressed shock at the severity of the weather conditions.
“I am amazed that it was only a yellow weather warning issued,” he said at a press conference. “We absolutely thought on Saturday we were preparing for the possibility of an amber warning.”
When asked about safety concerns, Mr Morgan was unequivocal: “When you got a river flooding in people’s houses, and we’re asking the fire service to rescue people by boat, then clearly lives are at risk.”
Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies visited Pontypridd, with the Prime Minister’s office also making contact.
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Residents attend to their properties on Sion Street in Pontypridd
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Flooding in South Wales
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The Abercynon Feeder Pipe Footbridge over the River Taff, which was being rebuilt after Storm Dennis damage in 2020, was completely washed away during Saturday night’s floods. Record river levels were recorded on the Taff, with the Rhondda river at Gelli measuring 53cm higher than during Storm Dennis.
Five adults and five children had to be rescued from a house in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog following a landslide on Saturday. The M48 Severn Bridge has been closed in both directions due to strong winds, with motorists advised to use the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge instead.
Rail services on the Conwy Valley and Heart of Wales lines are suspended for the remainder of today and into this evening.
In Pontypridd’s Sion Street, residents have criticised Natural Resources Wales for inadequate flood prevention. Paula Williams, whose house flooded, said: “We only knew something was happening because we had a neighbour knocking us. She was shouting ‘get the cars moved.’ This time there’s only about four inches of water come in but it’s in exactly the same place that we told NRW about last time, and they didn’t do anything about it.”
The River Taff flooding in Pontypridd, Wales
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Rania Koutsikou, 32, described the community response: “People are very keen to help, as you can see, everyone is around, offering coffee, offering cookies, fire service are here now.”
Wind gusts of up to 82mph were recorded in Capel Curig, North Wales, where 64.4mm of rain fell in just 12 hours on Saturday. Natural Resources Wales has issued more than 100 flood warnings and alerts across the country.
Welsh Water has implemented a “boil water” notice for residents in multiple areas including Blaenrhondda, Treherbert, and Tonypandy. The notice comes as officials investigate potential issues at Tynywaun Water Treatment Works, which has been impacted by the storm.
Rising waters have been reported in towns across the country, including Ebbw Vale and Aberdare.
