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| Effects of Storm Dennis spark fears of Aberfan repeat in Wales | Effects of Storm Dennis spark fears of Aberfan repeat in Wales |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Landslide leads to inspections of coal tip to avert similar disaster to that which killed 116 children in 1966 | Landslide leads to inspections of coal tip to avert similar disaster to that which killed 116 children in 1966 |
| The effects of Storm Dennis could set off another Aberfan-style disaster, experts have warned, as former coal tips in the Welsh valleys undergo emergency inspections before further flooding is expected. | The effects of Storm Dennis could set off another Aberfan-style disaster, experts have warned, as former coal tips in the Welsh valleys undergo emergency inspections before further flooding is expected. |
| More than 20 tips are being checked after a landslide at a former tip site in south Wales. | More than 20 tips are being checked after a landslide at a former tip site in south Wales. |
| Across some areas of Britain, a month’s worth of rain is predicted to fall over the next 24 hours, the Environment Agency has said. | Across some areas of Britain, a month’s worth of rain is predicted to fall over the next 24 hours, the Environment Agency has said. |
| In Devon, meanwhile, concerns are growing for an elderly woman who is thought to have fallen into the flooded River Exe at Tiverton on Monday morning. It is feared she may be the sixth person to die in Storm Dennis over the last five days. | |
| The landslide on Sunday took place at Tylorstown, in the Rhondda Valley, 10 miles from Aberfan where 116 children died in the 1966 disaster. Ben Curtis, a local mining historian, said the Tylorstown incident “evokes memories” of Aberfan. | The landslide on Sunday took place at Tylorstown, in the Rhondda Valley, 10 miles from Aberfan where 116 children died in the 1966 disaster. Ben Curtis, a local mining historian, said the Tylorstown incident “evokes memories” of Aberfan. |
| “The Aberfan disaster was such an unspeakably horrific thing that cast a deep shadow over popular memory in the area,” he said. “So whenever we see anything like this, which is distressing in itself, it evokes images of Aberfan.” | “The Aberfan disaster was such an unspeakably horrific thing that cast a deep shadow over popular memory in the area,” he said. “So whenever we see anything like this, which is distressing in itself, it evokes images of Aberfan.” |
| Cliff Durham, a former miner, watched the Tylorstown landslide as it happened on Sunday. He said: “As soon as I saw this, I thought of Aberfan straight away. Believe me, you don’t want to see that again. | Cliff Durham, a former miner, watched the Tylorstown landslide as it happened on Sunday. He said: “As soon as I saw this, I thought of Aberfan straight away. Believe me, you don’t want to see that again. |
| “There’s tonnes and tonnes of coal still around. The authorities should drill it so the water could go down but they can’t leave it like that. They’ve got to take it away because it could come again.” | “There’s tonnes and tonnes of coal still around. The authorities should drill it so the water could go down but they can’t leave it like that. They’ve got to take it away because it could come again.” |
| Lisa Pinney, the chief executive of the Coal Authority, said inspections were being carried out to keep communities safe. She said: “We haven’t seen any major issues at any of these sites but we are ensuring that all drainage channels and trash screens are free from debris so they perform as they should.” | Lisa Pinney, the chief executive of the Coal Authority, said inspections were being carried out to keep communities safe. She said: “We haven’t seen any major issues at any of these sites but we are ensuring that all drainage channels and trash screens are free from debris so they perform as they should.” |
| Another downpour is expected in south Wales and five flood warnings are in place across the region. | Another downpour is expected in south Wales and five flood warnings are in place across the region. |
| The leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf council, Andrew Morgan, said 800 homes had been hit in his area. He said: “We have to consider homelessness because some houses will not be able to be lived in for some time.” | The leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf council, Andrew Morgan, said 800 homes had been hit in his area. He said: “We have to consider homelessness because some houses will not be able to be lived in for some time.” |
| The Welsh government has promised £10m for councils to spend on flood relief, but Morgan said the bill was likely to be higher. “That £10m is the initial amount for householders and businesses and we have released £1m from our own reserves. No doubt we will have to release more in the coming weeks. But the repair bill is going to run into millions and millions of pounds.” | The Welsh government has promised £10m for councils to spend on flood relief, but Morgan said the bill was likely to be higher. “That £10m is the initial amount for householders and businesses and we have released £1m from our own reserves. No doubt we will have to release more in the coming weeks. But the repair bill is going to run into millions and millions of pounds.” |
| In Monmouth, south Wales, utilities officials have delivered 40 tankers of water after a treatment centre was washed out by rain and residents were told to ration their use. Dwr Cymru Welsh Water said: “Reducing water use now will ensure that we can restore full supplies as quickly as possible once we can access our site.” | In Monmouth, south Wales, utilities officials have delivered 40 tankers of water after a treatment centre was washed out by rain and residents were told to ration their use. Dwr Cymru Welsh Water said: “Reducing water use now will ensure that we can restore full supplies as quickly as possible once we can access our site.” |
| In Devon, emergency services were carrying out searches for Jean Disney, 87, who was last seen in Tiverton around 3am on Monday. | In Devon, emergency services were carrying out searches for Jean Disney, 87, who was last seen in Tiverton around 3am on Monday. |
| Urging the public to stay away from areas adjacent to the river, a Devon and Cornwall police spokesman said: “These searches are currently confined to the River Exe, as evidence at this time has strongly indicated that Jean fell into the water in the early hours of Monday.” | Urging the public to stay away from areas adjacent to the river, a Devon and Cornwall police spokesman said: “These searches are currently confined to the River Exe, as evidence at this time has strongly indicated that Jean fell into the water in the early hours of Monday.” |
| Transport for Wales said heavy rain over the coming days could affect rugby fans travelling to Cardiff for Saturday’s Wales v France match in the Six Nations. It urged travellers including supporters going to the game to check for regular updates during the rest of the week. Jeremy Corbyn has denounced Boris Johnson’s refusal thus far to convene an emergency Cobra meeting in Downing Street to respond to the floods. | Transport for Wales said heavy rain over the coming days could affect rugby fans travelling to Cardiff for Saturday’s Wales v France match in the Six Nations. It urged travellers including supporters going to the game to check for regular updates during the rest of the week. Jeremy Corbyn has denounced Boris Johnson’s refusal thus far to convene an emergency Cobra meeting in Downing Street to respond to the floods. |
| • This article was amended on 20 February 2020 because an earlier version used the term “pensioner” which our style guide says should be avoided as a description of an individual. |