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Flash flood sweeps through Coverack in Cornwall | Flash flood sweeps through Coverack in Cornwall |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Flash flooding has seen torrents of water sweep through a Cornish village. | Flash flooding has seen torrents of water sweep through a Cornish village. |
Residents in Coverack, on the Lizard Peninsula, reported roads being blocked and hailstones the size of 50 pence pieces smashing windows. | Residents in Coverack, on the Lizard Peninsula, reported roads being blocked and hailstones the size of 50 pence pieces smashing windows. |
Heavy rainfall hit at about 15:00 BST on Tuesday and about 50 properties are estimated to be affected by the flooding, but no injuries have been reported. | Heavy rainfall hit at about 15:00 BST on Tuesday and about 50 properties are estimated to be affected by the flooding, but no injuries have been reported. |
Emergency services will meet at 09:00 BST "to coordinate the recovery phase". | Emergency services will meet at 09:00 BST "to coordinate the recovery phase". |
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said its crews attended "multiple flooding-related incidents" and urged people to "avoid this area". | Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said its crews attended "multiple flooding-related incidents" and urged people to "avoid this area". |
Latest on the flash flooding in Coverack | |
Cornwall Council said the first calls about the flooding were received about 15:40. One person was reported to be trapped in an outbuilding and six people were on the roof of their property. | Cornwall Council said the first calls about the flooding were received about 15:40. One person was reported to be trapped in an outbuilding and six people were on the roof of their property. |
A major incident was declared at 17:20 and the helicopter was deployed to rescue the people trapped on the roof. | A major incident was declared at 17:20 and the helicopter was deployed to rescue the people trapped on the roof. |
'Flood of water' | 'Flood of water' |
A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said a helicopter was sent from Newquay. | A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said a helicopter was sent from Newquay. |
She said: "Six people were in a house and two have been rescued from the house by helicopter." | She said: "Six people were in a house and two have been rescued from the house by helicopter." |
Karla Wainwright, who works at the Paris Hotel, said: "This afternoon we could tell it was going to get about stormy, then about 3pm it hit. | Karla Wainwright, who works at the Paris Hotel, said: "This afternoon we could tell it was going to get about stormy, then about 3pm it hit. |
"There were hailstones as big as 50p pieces and a lot of small panes in our windows are broken." | "There were hailstones as big as 50p pieces and a lot of small panes in our windows are broken." |
Ms Wainwright said the storm continued for an hour and a half. | Ms Wainwright said the storm continued for an hour and a half. |
"Once it cleared off then we could see a massive flood of water coming down the main way into Coverack." | "Once it cleared off then we could see a massive flood of water coming down the main way into Coverack." |
15:00 BST - Heavy rain moves in to the village of Coverack | 15:00 BST - Heavy rain moves in to the village of Coverack |
15:40 BST - First calls to emergency services reporting flooding | 15:40 BST - First calls to emergency services reporting flooding |
16:30 BST - Hail storm hits the village | 16:30 BST - Hail storm hits the village |
17:20 BST - Major incident declared and HM Coastguard helicopter scrambled | 17:20 BST - Major incident declared and HM Coastguard helicopter scrambled |
Bill Magill, who owns the nearby White Hart Hotel, said the water was "over a foot high" in some areas. | Bill Magill, who owns the nearby White Hart Hotel, said the water was "over a foot high" in some areas. |
"It was nothing like I've ever known in this area, we were totally unprepared for it and it was totally unexpected," he said. | "It was nothing like I've ever known in this area, we were totally unprepared for it and it was totally unexpected," he said. |
"[It was] racing down a little country lane, pouring over the banks like these waterfalls." | "[It was] racing down a little country lane, pouring over the banks like these waterfalls." |
'Cut in half' | 'Cut in half' |
The Met Office said the flood followed heavy thunderstorms and rain in Cornwall and Devon on Tuesday afternoon. | The Met Office said the flood followed heavy thunderstorms and rain in Cornwall and Devon on Tuesday afternoon. |
Bill Frisken, a local councillor in Coverack, said he could not access the centre of the village because the main road was underwater. | Bill Frisken, a local councillor in Coverack, said he could not access the centre of the village because the main road was underwater. |
Describing the speed with which the flood hit, he said: "It was almost instantaneous." | Describing the speed with which the flood hit, he said: "It was almost instantaneous." |
"The village has effectively been cut in half, you can't cross the river," he added. | "The village has effectively been cut in half, you can't cross the river," he added. |
Mr Frisken said he and his wife had to bail water out of their kitchen, while their garage was also flooded. | Mr Frisken said he and his wife had to bail water out of their kitchen, while their garage was also flooded. |
"It was several feet of water coming down and pouring into the house. The depth of water was immense." | "It was several feet of water coming down and pouring into the house. The depth of water was immense." |
Another witness said: "I have never seen such big hails. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing and it was hailing, all at the same time. | Another witness said: "I have never seen such big hails. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing and it was hailing, all at the same time. |
"It was quite amazing really." | "It was quite amazing really." |
A Cornwall Council spokesman confirmed some properties in the village and one of the roads suffered structural damage and are due to be inspected by structural engineers. | A Cornwall Council spokesman confirmed some properties in the village and one of the roads suffered structural damage and are due to be inspected by structural engineers. |
A local hotel offered accommodation to anyone unable to return to their home, while one elderly resident was moved to a local nursing home. | A local hotel offered accommodation to anyone unable to return to their home, while one elderly resident was moved to a local nursing home. |
A meeting is due to be held for residents at the village's Paris Hotel at 11:30 BST on Wednesday which will be attended by council officers. | A meeting is due to be held for residents at the village's Paris Hotel at 11:30 BST on Wednesday which will be attended by council officers. |
Have you been affected by the flash flood? If it is safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by the flash flood? If it is safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |