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People trapped in their homes in Cardigan as tidal surge hits People trapped as 30 properties flood in Cardigan after tidal surge hits
(35 minutes later)
A storm surge is causing flooding along the Wales coastline as high winds coincide with spring tides. About 30 properties are flooded in Cardigan where a pregnant woman has been rescued and some people are trapped in their homes.
Some people are trapped in their homes in Cardigan and police were called to stop sightseers endangering their lives in Burry Port. The storm surge is causing chaos as it moves up the coastline with the exceptional high tide due between Anglesey and Flintshire by lunchtime.
As the high tide moves up the coastline communities in mid and north Wales are bracing themselves. Dozens of roads are closed and the rail network is also badly affected.
Four severe flood warnings are in place in Flintshire, Barmouth in Gwynedd, and in the Usk Estuary at Newport.Four severe flood warnings are in place in Flintshire, Barmouth in Gwynedd, and in the Usk Estuary at Newport.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said a number of properties had been flooded in St Mary Street in Cardigan with people trapped in their homes. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said properties had been flooded in St Mary Street in Cardigan leaving some people trapped.
One pregnant woman has been rescued and fire crews from Crymych, Newcastle Emlyn and Cardigan are using wading equipment to reach homes to assess the situation. Among those rescued was a pregnant woman and fire crews from Crymych, Newcastle Emlyn and Cardigan were using wading equipment to reach homes to assess the situation.
Police were called to move people from Burry Port pier because the conditions were so bad and a woman is trapped by flood water in a caravan in Llantwit Major. Earlier, as the high tide hit the south of Wales, police were called to move people from Burry Port pier because the conditions were so bad in Carmarthenshire.
Some homes in Newport were evacuated overnight. In the Vale of Glamorgan a woman is trapped by flood water in a caravan in Llantwit Major.
Across much off the south and west coast of Wales, more than 50 flood warnings are in force. Some homes in Newport were evacuated overnight as a precaution.
Ron Cant from Carmarthenshire council said some people were ignoring the dangers and the police had been called. As well as the four severe flood warnings in force in Wales, there 50 flood warnings. and 20 alerts.
Ron Cant from Carmarthenshire council said some people were ignoring the dangers posed by the high winds and tides and the police had been called.
"Our rangers have had problems at Burry Port particularly where people have been driving down and lots going on to the pier."Our rangers have had problems at Burry Port particularly where people have been driving down and lots going on to the pier.
"We've had to call for police assistance. They have started to move them out," said Mr Cant."We've had to call for police assistance. They have started to move them out," said Mr Cant.
"We put warnings out asking people to stay away from coastal paths, particularly over these next couple of days where we have this situation repeated morning and evening through the weekend."We put warnings out asking people to stay away from coastal paths, particularly over these next couple of days where we have this situation repeated morning and evening through the weekend.
"It's extremely dangerous when the tide is in and this wind gusting up to 70-80mph driving waves in, particularly perilous for anybody on the shore side.""It's extremely dangerous when the tide is in and this wind gusting up to 70-80mph driving waves in, particularly perilous for anybody on the shore side."
Up to 50 caravans have been flooded at Carmarthen Bay caravan park, he added. Up to 50 caravans have been flooded at Carmarthen Bay caravan park in Kidwelly, he added.
In Pendine the high tide is reported to have smashed through flood boards put up on Thursday to plug gaps in the sea wall, and the Beach Hotel has been flooded. In Pendine the high tide is reported to have smashed through flood boards put up to plug gaps in the sea wall, and the Beach Hotel has been flooded.
BBC Wales reporter Gilbert John, at Castle Hill in Carmarthen overlooking the River Towy, said: "It's not a river any more, it's a sea because the entire valley is covered in water.
"The conditions on the shore are absolutely devastating."
The high tide - the worst in 17 years - started to hit the coast of Pembrokeshire after 07:00 GMT.The high tide - the worst in 17 years - started to hit the coast of Pembrokeshire after 07:00 GMT.
On Friday morning incidents caused by the flooding included:On Friday morning incidents caused by the flooding included:
Flood warnings stretch from parts of Conwy, Anglesey and Gwynedd in the north, through Ceredigion to Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, and then across from Swansea to Cardiff, and onto Newport and Monmouthshire.Flood warnings stretch from parts of Conwy, Anglesey and Gwynedd in the north, through Ceredigion to Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, and then across from Swansea to Cardiff, and onto Newport and Monmouthshire.
Homes on the Lighthouse Park Estate in Wentlooge Levels, Newport and in the area north of Crindau, Pill were evacuated on Thursday night because of the risk of flooding.Homes on the Lighthouse Park Estate in Wentlooge Levels, Newport and in the area north of Crindau, Pill were evacuated on Thursday night because of the risk of flooding.
"This is the some of the highest tides since 1997, and on top of that it's very windy so that's causing about a one metre surge on top of the tide," said Joanne Sherwood, from Natural Resources Wales (NRW)."This is the some of the highest tides since 1997, and on top of that it's very windy so that's causing about a one metre surge on top of the tide," said Joanne Sherwood, from Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
"We think this is serious and we've had our teams out and about checking defences making sure things are in good working order," she told BBC Radio Wales."We think this is serious and we've had our teams out and about checking defences making sure things are in good working order," she told BBC Radio Wales.
The severe flood warnings - the highest category of warning meaning life and property are at risk - are in place for:The severe flood warnings - the highest category of warning meaning life and property are at risk - are in place for:
"The fact that this has been issued needs to be taken seriously," stressed Ch Supt Jeremy Vaughan, who is leading the response in Barmouth."The fact that this has been issued needs to be taken seriously," stressed Ch Supt Jeremy Vaughan, who is leading the response in Barmouth.
"People living in the affected areas need to heed the warning and make arrangements now to secure their own safety.""People living in the affected areas need to heed the warning and make arrangements now to secure their own safety."
Properties at risk are on the seafront at the harbour and Heol Llywelyn and Heol y Llan.Properties at risk are on the seafront at the harbour and Heol Llywelyn and Heol y Llan.
In Monmouthshire, the council said it was closing the A466 at Tintern for 20 minutes each side of the high tide, which is expected at 09:00. In Monmouthshire, the council said was was closing the A466 at Tintern for 20 minutes each side of the high tide.
"The combination of high tides, flood water, high winds and forecasted tidal surge in the Severn, together with low pressure, means that properties may be at risk of flood," said Roger Hoggins, head of operations at Monmouthshire council.
"Therefore, on Friday morning we will be sandbagging vulnerable properties prior to closing the road."
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind which remains in force until midnight on Friday.The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind which remains in force until midnight on Friday.
Meteorological officer Charlie Powell told Radio Wales: "We've already seen gusts of up to 70mph across some exposed western parts of Wales and it's the wind that's going to be the crux of this next batch of severe weather.Meteorological officer Charlie Powell told Radio Wales: "We've already seen gusts of up to 70mph across some exposed western parts of Wales and it's the wind that's going to be the crux of this next batch of severe weather.
"From now really until 9am we can expect to see tides peaking as we go from south to north and as these strong winds coincide with those high tides and push that water it gives really high waves and that just increases the risk of coastal flooding. "We can expect to see tides peaking as we go from south to north and as these strong winds coincide with those high tides and push that water it gives really high waves and that just increases the risk of coastal flooding.
"It's relatively rare to see all these things combining at exactly the same time and it's exactly why these risks are so high this time.""It's relatively rare to see all these things combining at exactly the same time and it's exactly why these risks are so high this time."
He added that the hills and mountains of Wales will be worst hit by the winds.He added that the hills and mountains of Wales will be worst hit by the winds.