This article is from the source 'bbc' 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 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-49189955
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| Whaley Bridge dam collapse: Town evacuated over Toddbrook Reservoir fears | Whaley Bridge dam collapse: Town evacuated over Toddbrook Reservoir fears |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of people are being evacuated from a town because part of a reservoir wall has collapsed in floods. | Thousands of people are being evacuated from a town because part of a reservoir wall has collapsed in floods. |
| Engineers are pumping water from Toddbrook Reservoir but if it bursts it could swamp Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire. | Engineers are pumping water from Toddbrook Reservoir but if it bursts it could swamp Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire. |
| Police have told the town's 6,500 residents to gather at a local school, taking pets and medication with them. | Police have told the town's 6,500 residents to gather at a local school, taking pets and medication with them. |
| A severe flood warning, which means a threat to life, has been issued for the River Goyt, below the reservoir. | A severe flood warning, which means a threat to life, has been issued for the River Goyt, below the reservoir. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Kem Mehmet from Derbyshire Police said they had plans for every scenario - including the dam collapsing. | Assistant Chief Constable Kem Mehmet from Derbyshire Police said they had plans for every scenario - including the dam collapsing. |
| Police told residents to gather at Chapel High School in the neighbouring town of Chapel-en-le-Frith and to take pets and medication with them as they "are not sure how long [it] will take". | Police told residents to gather at Chapel High School in the neighbouring town of Chapel-en-le-Frith and to take pets and medication with them as they "are not sure how long [it] will take". |
| They said evacuated residents should try to arrange their own accommodation as space was limited, but some local pubs and community halls had offered to take in evacuees. | They said evacuated residents should try to arrange their own accommodation as space was limited, but some local pubs and community halls had offered to take in evacuees. |
| There is a yellow weather warning for rain in place from the Met Office for the area until 20:00. | There is a yellow weather warning for rain in place from the Met Office for the area until 20:00. |
| Trains between Hazel Grove and Buxton have been blocked because of the flooding, affecting Northern train services between Manchester Piccadilly and Buxton. | Trains between Hazel Grove and Buxton have been blocked because of the flooding, affecting Northern train services between Manchester Piccadilly and Buxton. |
| Ten pumps from fire services across the country are currently pumping out 7,000 litres of water a minute in a bid to bring down the water level. | Ten pumps from fire services across the country are currently pumping out 7,000 litres of water a minute in a bid to bring down the water level. |
| 'Bring the dog' | 'Bring the dog' |
| Jennifer, owner of the Goyt Inn, has been evacuated and is currently in the school. | Jennifer, owner of the Goyt Inn, has been evacuated and is currently in the school. |
| She said: "I rang my partner and said, 'Bring the dog. We have to get out'. | She said: "I rang my partner and said, 'Bring the dog. We have to get out'. |
| "We've been told if we need accommodation, something will be organised, but at the moment, [the council] are waiting on structural reports from engineers. | "We've been told if we need accommodation, something will be organised, but at the moment, [the council] are waiting on structural reports from engineers. |
| "The dam is a mess. It really looks very unsafe and there's a lot of water in that reservoir." | "The dam is a mess. It really looks very unsafe and there's a lot of water in that reservoir." |
| Tracey Croasdale, a resident for 23 years, said she has not yet been told to evacuate but has her rabbits and dog ready in case. | Tracey Croasdale, a resident for 23 years, said she has not yet been told to evacuate but has her rabbits and dog ready in case. |
| She said: "We're sitting watching the news, it's very scary. Never in a million years did we think it would burst its banks." | She said: "We're sitting watching the news, it's very scary. Never in a million years did we think it would burst its banks." |
| Speaking to the BBC from the banks of the reservoir, Simon Perry, another Whaley Bridge resident, said the water levels were "right up to the limit". | Speaking to the BBC from the banks of the reservoir, Simon Perry, another Whaley Bridge resident, said the water levels were "right up to the limit". |
| "The rest of the village is a bit like a ghost town, it's pretty much deserted at the moment." | "The rest of the village is a bit like a ghost town, it's pretty much deserted at the moment." |
| He said he has seen water spilling over the dam occasionally before, but added residents had been "fairly sanguine" and he had "not seen any panic". | He said he has seen water spilling over the dam occasionally before, but added residents had been "fairly sanguine" and he had "not seen any panic". |
| 'People abandoning vehicles' | 'People abandoning vehicles' |
| Symon Trelfa, whose home is near the dam, said he is "worried I may have no home to return to". | Symon Trelfa, whose home is near the dam, said he is "worried I may have no home to return to". |
| He said: "There were rumours going around about the state of the dam yesterday so I decided to move into my sister's house in Chapel-en-le-Frith. | He said: "There were rumours going around about the state of the dam yesterday so I decided to move into my sister's house in Chapel-en-le-Frith. |
| "There's gridlock on the local roads at the moment - people are abandoning vehicles." | "There's gridlock on the local roads at the moment - people are abandoning vehicles." |
| Former Conservative MP Edwina Currie also lives in the town. | Former Conservative MP Edwina Currie also lives in the town. |
| She said: "Evacuation is absolutely necessary. I don't think they've got any choice. People are being advised not to take pictures. We are really very, very worried. | She said: "Evacuation is absolutely necessary. I don't think they've got any choice. People are being advised not to take pictures. We are really very, very worried. |
| "People are being advised - wisely - not to take any risk there," she told the BBC. | "People are being advised - wisely - not to take any risk there," she told the BBC. |
| "We've had people wandering around trying to take pictures. Please don't. It's not really very safe at the moment." | "We've had people wandering around trying to take pictures. Please don't. It's not really very safe at the moment." |
| Analysis | |
| BBC science correspondent Rebecca Morelle | |
| The dam is quite old - it was built in 1831 and is an earth-filled construction. | The dam is quite old - it was built in 1831 and is an earth-filled construction. |
| The problem is the damage is high up. The key is to get the water levels down as fast as you can. | The problem is the damage is high up. The key is to get the water levels down as fast as you can. |
| You can divert it out through channels and there is a plug deep down. | You can divert it out through channels and there is a plug deep down. |
| The key will be to see if it holds overnight. If it does, there's a good chance they can repair the dam but it will take months. | The key will be to see if it holds overnight. If it does, there's a good chance they can repair the dam but it will take months. |
| 'Mortal danger' | 'Mortal danger' |
| Councillor Martin Thomas, chair of Whaley Bridge town council, told the BBC the clay under the slabs of the slipway had been undermined when they were lost. | Councillor Martin Thomas, chair of Whaley Bridge town council, told the BBC the clay under the slabs of the slipway had been undermined when they were lost. |
| He said: "The situation is an unfortunate combination of circumstances. | He said: "The situation is an unfortunate combination of circumstances. |
| "We've had a lot of wet weather recently, the ground is saturated, the reservoir was already full. | "We've had a lot of wet weather recently, the ground is saturated, the reservoir was already full. |
| "Something we previously looked at as a benign leisure facility suddenly becomes a real mortal danger." | "Something we previously looked at as a benign leisure facility suddenly becomes a real mortal danger." |
| Ruth George, Labour MP for the area, said the town could be evacuated for "several days". | Ruth George, Labour MP for the area, said the town could be evacuated for "several days". |
| "It's hard to see how they can get the water in the reservoir down quicker than that," she added. | "It's hard to see how they can get the water in the reservoir down quicker than that," she added. |
| "The dam had some pretty significant structural repairs a few years ago. | "The dam had some pretty significant structural repairs a few years ago. |
| "We were told after that it was safe but we have had an unprecedented amount of water coming down in the past few days. | "We were told after that it was safe but we have had an unprecedented amount of water coming down in the past few days. |
| "Nobody is looking at laying the blame. What we want to do is make sure the people in the town are safe." | "Nobody is looking at laying the blame. What we want to do is make sure the people in the town are safe." |
| The Canal and River Trust said they were working with "other agencies" and had engineers trying to get water out. | The Canal and River Trust said they were working with "other agencies" and had engineers trying to get water out. |
| Professor Nigel Wright, a civil engineer and an expert in flood risk management, said: "Within 12 hours or so they will be able to tell them how long [the evacuation] is going to be." | Professor Nigel Wright, a civil engineer and an expert in flood risk management, said: "Within 12 hours or so they will be able to tell them how long [the evacuation] is going to be." |
| He said the concrete on the dam would have become damaged and the earth underneath eroded so they need to get the water out "as fast as possible" but not too fast, because that could flood downstream. | He said the concrete on the dam would have become damaged and the earth underneath eroded so they need to get the water out "as fast as possible" but not too fast, because that could flood downstream. |
| Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |
| Have you been affected by the flooding? Share your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Have you been affected by the flooding? Share your experiences. Email 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: |