Severe flood warnings remain in Midlands and north of England
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Version 1 of 4. Seven ‘danger to life’ warnings issued for River Don as flooding leaves trail of devastation Flood warnings remain in place across the Midlands and northern England as receding waters revealed a trail of devastation across the region. The Environment Agency has issued seven severe flood warnings for the River Don at Barnby Dun, Bently, Fishlake, Kirk Bramwith, Kirk Sandall, South Bramwith and Willow Bridge caravan site. “The River Don at Doncaster and the Derwent at Derby both peaked at record levels overnight,” said John Curtin, the EA’s executive director of flood and coastal risk management. “Although river levels are falling dangerous flood waters remain so we still have seven severe flood warnings in force.” There are also 55 warnings telling people to take immediate action in light of expected flooding, along with 88 alerts urging residents to be prepared. Derbyshire police were warning people that widespread floods remained on roads both in Derby and across the county, with major impacts on the bus network alongside significant delays to train services. “If you come across a flooded road turn back and find a different route,” the force said on Twitter. “Even where water levels begin to lower the depth can still be unknown and cause significant danger. “As flood waters begin to recede you should take care not to come into contact with water or any of the silt or items left behind. “If you do come into contact with water or silt then you should thoroughly clean your hands and wash any clothing that also comes into contact.” Yorkshire and the Midlands were among the areas worst affected by heavy downpours on Thursday and Friday. Sheffield in South Yorkshire received 84mm of rain over 36 hours, which is almost the average monthly rainfall for Yorkshire, said Met Office weather forecaster Marco Petanga. Gringley on the Hill in Nottinghamshire had 65mm of rain in that time. Dry weather and sunshine are now forecast for the areas worst affected by the floods. “It’s a cold start but there will be some sunshine throughout the day and a lot of dry weather,” Petanga said. There are two yellow rain warnings, with one in place from 11am to midnight stretching from Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, to Eastbourne and Portsmouth and another from 5am to 8pm covering Northern Ireland from Ballycastle to Newry. Northern Ireland could get up to 50mm of rain on Saturday, Petanga said. The Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, is due to visit flood-hit areas of South Yorkshire on Saturday, after the prime minister, Boris Johnson, angered people in the region on Friday by describing the floods as “not looking like something we need to escalate to the level of a national emergency”. His visit came after the death of a woman who was reportedly swept away by flood water. The body of the woman, who has not been identified, was recovered in Darley Dale, near Matlock, at about 10.40am on Friday, Derbyshire police said. She was reported to have been swept away by floodwater in Rowsley in the early hours. |