This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2015/dec/26/severe-flood-warnings-in-the-north-prompt-boxing-day-evacuation-fears
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 11 | Version 12 |
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| Severe flooding in Britain prompts Boxing Day evacuations – as it happened | Severe flooding in Britain prompts Boxing Day evacuations – as it happened |
| (30 days later) | |
| 5.12pm GMT | 5.12pm GMT |
| 17:12 | 17:12 |
| Closing summary | Closing summary |
| Here’s a round-up of today’s key developments. | Here’s a round-up of today’s key developments. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.38pm GMT | at 6.38pm GMT |
| 4.55pm GMT | 4.55pm GMT |
| 16:55 | 16:55 |
| A reminder: | A reminder: |
| Anyone with concerns about vulnerable residents affected by the flooding can call police on 101 #lancsalert | Anyone with concerns about vulnerable residents affected by the flooding can call police on 101 #lancsalert |
| 4.54pm GMT | 4.54pm GMT |
| 16:54 | 16:54 |
| There are now 21 severe flood warnings, 227 warnings, and 138 alerts. Seven warnings have been removed in the past 24 hours. You can use the following links to check the flood warnings live page, view the current flood warnings map or find the latest river and sea levels in your area. | There are now 21 severe flood warnings, 227 warnings, and 138 alerts. Seven warnings have been removed in the past 24 hours. You can use the following links to check the flood warnings live page, view the current flood warnings map or find the latest river and sea levels in your area. |
| 4.43pm GMT | 4.43pm GMT |
| 16:43 | 16:43 |
| Lancashire Police say they are currently responding to 180-flood related calls across the county. | Lancashire Police say they are currently responding to 180-flood related calls across the county. |
| @LancsPolice currently responding to 180 flood-related calls across the county - many more logged from throughout the day #lancsalert | @LancsPolice currently responding to 180 flood-related calls across the county - many more logged from throughout the day #lancsalert |
| Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said it had responded to about 350 incidents and rescued about 50 people. | Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said it had responded to about 350 incidents and rescued about 50 people. |
| LFRS have been mobilised to around 350 incidents and been involved with rescuing around 50 people so far. Stay safe Lancs #lancsalert | LFRS have been mobilised to around 350 incidents and been involved with rescuing around 50 people so far. Stay safe Lancs #lancsalert |
| The Met Office has issued a red alert for Lancashire, as well as Yorkshire. There are seven severe flood warnings in Lancashire, indicating that more flooding is expected and that there is a danger to life, and 13 in Yorkshire | The Met Office has issued a red alert for Lancashire, as well as Yorkshire. There are seven severe flood warnings in Lancashire, indicating that more flooding is expected and that there is a danger to life, and 13 in Yorkshire |
| 4.34pm GMT | 4.34pm GMT |
| 16:34 | 16:34 |
| A 20ft sinkhole has opened up on the M62, closing a stretch of the motorway westbound between junctions 19 and 20. | A 20ft sinkhole has opened up on the M62, closing a stretch of the motorway westbound between junctions 19 and 20. |
| A Highways Agency spokesman told the Manchester Evening News the heavy rainfall was partly to blame. | A Highways Agency spokesman told the Manchester Evening News the heavy rainfall was partly to blame. |
| “When the road surface experiences rainfall like we’ve had today even a slight change in temperature can cause weakness in the road surface,” he said. | “When the road surface experiences rainfall like we’ve had today even a slight change in temperature can cause weakness in the road surface,” he said. |
| “We’ve got engineers on site investigating exactly what has happened and what work is required to fix it. | “We’ve got engineers on site investigating exactly what has happened and what work is required to fix it. |
| The spokesman said the rain was hampering repair efforts. | The spokesman said the rain was hampering repair efforts. |
| Sink hole just near slip road M62 Jct 19 for Heywood heading to Manchester 😡 pic.twitter.com/yjFyuVp4gx | Sink hole just near slip road M62 Jct 19 for Heywood heading to Manchester 😡 pic.twitter.com/yjFyuVp4gx |
| 3.56pm GMT | 3.56pm GMT |
| 15:56 | 15:56 |
| LFRS have been mobilised to around 350 incidents and been involved with rescuing around 50 people so far. Stay safe Lancs #lancsalert | LFRS have been mobilised to around 350 incidents and been involved with rescuing around 50 people so far. Stay safe Lancs #lancsalert |
| Meanwhile, here’s an update of the affected areas across the UK: | Meanwhile, here’s an update of the affected areas across the UK: |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.21pm GMT | at 4.21pm GMT |
| 3.50pm GMT | 3.50pm GMT |
| 15:50 | 15:50 |
| West Yorkshire police is advising residents in houses that have been flooded not to try to escape, but to ring 101 and wait for help to arrive. This is from the latest update on the force’s website. | West Yorkshire police is advising residents in houses that have been flooded not to try to escape, but to ring 101 and wait for help to arrive. This is from the latest update on the force’s website. |
| Communities in Hebden Bridge, Mythamroyd and Sowerby Bridge are among the areas most affected by flooding disruption and emergency services are working in partnership in these and other locations. | Communities in Hebden Bridge, Mythamroyd and Sowerby Bridge are among the areas most affected by flooding disruption and emergency services are working in partnership in these and other locations. |
| Residents whose properties have been flooded are being advised to go to stay in their homes if possible and to go to the upstairs of their properties. If they are in danger then they should ring 101 and not try and evacuate themselves. | Residents whose properties have been flooded are being advised to go to stay in their homes if possible and to go to the upstairs of their properties. If they are in danger then they should ring 101 and not try and evacuate themselves. |
| Theye are alos being advised to stay safe, not to dry and drive on roads which have been closed due to flooding and not to stand at the edge of rising flood waters. | Theye are alos being advised to stay safe, not to dry and drive on roads which have been closed due to flooding and not to stand at the edge of rising flood waters. |
| Rest centres have been set up Halifax town centre, and at Todmorden Town Hall and Keighley Leisure Centre and flood levels are being monitored on the ground. | Rest centres have been set up Halifax town centre, and at Todmorden Town Hall and Keighley Leisure Centre and flood levels are being monitored on the ground. |
| 3.29pm GMT | 3.29pm GMT |
| 15:29 | 15:29 |
| Five new severe flood warnings issued | Five new severe flood warnings issued |
| The Environment Agency has issued five more severe flood warnings after the River Aire burst its banks in Leeds. The warning says: | The Environment Agency has issued five more severe flood warnings after the River Aire burst its banks in Leeds. The warning says: |
| Flooding is causing and expected to cause further impacts in central Leeds Area. This Severe Flood Warning has been issued because of significant impacts to infrastructure and risk to life in the area. | Flooding is causing and expected to cause further impacts in central Leeds Area. This Severe Flood Warning has been issued because of significant impacts to infrastructure and risk to life in the area. |
| We have experienced record levels in the Aire Catchment. The peak at Leeds Crown Point is expected around 23:00 tonight. This is the highest ever record and higher than in 2007. | We have experienced record levels in the Aire Catchment. The peak at Leeds Crown Point is expected around 23:00 tonight. This is the highest ever record and higher than in 2007. |
| Bingley. River Aire has burst it's banks. Horrendous #flooding #westyorkshire #airedale pic.twitter.com/5Wt7vanWVw | Bingley. River Aire has burst it's banks. Horrendous #flooding #westyorkshire #airedale pic.twitter.com/5Wt7vanWVw |
| @BBCLeeds @PandCExpress River Aire very high at Castleford, weir is barely visible! pic.twitter.com/fPYV6HeFM4 | @BBCLeeds @PandCExpress River Aire very high at Castleford, weir is barely visible! pic.twitter.com/fPYV6HeFM4 |
| There are currently 20 severe flood warnings, 218 flood warnings, and 130 flood alerts across England and Wales. Nine warnings issued in the past 24 hours are no longer in place. More details here. | There are currently 20 severe flood warnings, 218 flood warnings, and 130 flood alerts across England and Wales. Nine warnings issued in the past 24 hours are no longer in place. More details here. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.39pm GMT | at 3.39pm GMT |
| 3.20pm GMT | 3.20pm GMT |
| 15:20 | 15:20 |
| A section of the M62 trans-Pennine motorway is among a number roads closed by Greater Manchester police after flooding hit the north of Manchester’s wider metropolitan area. | A section of the M62 trans-Pennine motorway is among a number roads closed by Greater Manchester police after flooding hit the north of Manchester’s wider metropolitan area. |
| The Bolton, Bury, Rochdale and Oldham areas are most affected and a number of road closures have been put in place, the force said. | The Bolton, Bury, Rochdale and Oldham areas are most affected and a number of road closures have been put in place, the force said. |
| “We are working to identify and prioritise those most urgently in need of support and a Multi Agency Strategic Coordination Group will be held at 1pm today and further advice will follow,” GMP said in a statement. | “We are working to identify and prioritise those most urgently in need of support and a Multi Agency Strategic Coordination Group will be held at 1pm today and further advice will follow,” GMP said in a statement. |
| Rochdale town centre pic.twitter.com/1mac59pGxD | Rochdale town centre pic.twitter.com/1mac59pGxD |
| 3.05pm GMT | 3.05pm GMT |
| 15:05 | 15:05 |
| Politicians are calling on the Government to rethink cuts to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). Those departments are responsible for much of the spending on flood defences and preparation. | Politicians are calling on the Government to rethink cuts to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). Those departments are responsible for much of the spending on flood defences and preparation. |
| Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: | Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: |
| Coming a single day after Christmas is utterly terrible for those communities and my heart goes out to all those affected. The Government can and must do more to help people. But part of that response must be to look again at the swingeing cuts to departments like DCLG and Defra that will be needed to help communities back onto their feet. | Coming a single day after Christmas is utterly terrible for those communities and my heart goes out to all those affected. The Government can and must do more to help people. But part of that response must be to look again at the swingeing cuts to departments like DCLG and Defra that will be needed to help communities back onto their feet. |
| Simon Danczuk, MP for Rochdale, said: | Simon Danczuk, MP for Rochdale, said: |
| Our top priority at the moment is to ensure the health and safety of Rochdale residents at this difficult time. But I think there are serious lessons to be learned by the Environment Agency, which has repeatedly ignored warnings from local people that flooding on this scale was likely to happen. | Our top priority at the moment is to ensure the health and safety of Rochdale residents at this difficult time. But I think there are serious lessons to be learned by the Environment Agency, which has repeatedly ignored warnings from local people that flooding on this scale was likely to happen. |
| The Government’s massive budget cuts have left the Environment Agency as a remote and impotent organisation which is unable to respond sufficiently when risks like this occur. We now need urgent investment in order to get necessary work done and get the infrastructure in place to prevent something like this from happening again. | The Government’s massive budget cuts have left the Environment Agency as a remote and impotent organisation which is unable to respond sufficiently when risks like this occur. We now need urgent investment in order to get necessary work done and get the infrastructure in place to prevent something like this from happening again. |