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People trapped as 30 properties flood in Cardigan after tidal surge hits Storm surge brings flooding chaos moving up Wales' coast
(about 1 hour later)
About 30 properties are flooded in Cardigan where a pregnant woman has been rescued and some people are trapped in their homes. A storm surge has reached north Wales after leaving a trail of chaos along the Welsh coastline.
The storm surge is causing chaos as it moves up the coastline with the exceptional high tide due between Anglesey and Flintshire by lunchtime. About 30 properties were flooded in Cardigan where a pregnant woman was rescued and some people trapped in their homes.
Dozens of roads are closed and the rail network is also badly affected. Dozens of roads are closed and the rail network is badly affected around Wales.
Four severe flood warnings are in place in Flintshire, Barmouth in Gwynedd, and in the Usk Estuary at Newport. In Gwynedd a lifeboat rescued five people from flooded caravans in Pwllheli.
A flood rescue team also helped four people at a farm in Llanbedr near Barmouth.
The RNLI said two elderly men and a woman, along with a younger woman, were rescued from water which was waist deep.
In Aberystwyth student Tom Rule said he woke up to see the promenade "destroyed and huge waves crashing onto it".
"All the paving stones were up, a car had been washed away and huge waves were crashing onto the road," he added.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were busy with flooding incidents in Fishguard, Cardigan, Aberaeron and Aberystwyth.
The exceptional high tide was due to reach Anglesey and Flintshire by lunchtime.
In Flintshire rest centres were set up for people who were advised to leave their homes at Greenfield and Talacre.
The council has already closed Station Road in Talacre at the request of police.
In communities along the whole of Wales' coastline dozens of roads are closed and the rail network is also badly affected.
Arriva Trains is advising passengers not to travel where possible on main line services and Virgin Trains suspending services from 11:30GMT.
Four severe flood warnings remain in place in Flintshire, Barmouth in Gwynedd, and in the Usk Estuary at Newport. There are also 36 flood warnings.
"Severe flood warnings are only made when it is considered that there is a severe risk to life and property and the fact that this has been issued needs to be taken seriously," said Ch Supt Jeremy Vaughan of North Wales Police, who is leading the co-ordinated response at Greenfield and Point of Ayr in Flintshire.
"People living in the affected areas need to heed the warning and make arrangements now to secure their own safety," he said.
In Barmouth a man was rescued by boat from a flooded cafe on the beach.In Barmouth a man was rescued by boat from a flooded cafe on the beach.
Flood rescue team volunteers from across north Wales are now assembling at St Asaph, Denbighshire, to deploy with another flood boat if it is needed.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said properties had been flooded in St Mary Street in Cardigan leaving some people trapped.Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said properties had been flooded in St Mary Street in Cardigan leaving some people trapped.
Among those rescued was a pregnant woman and fire crews from Crymych, Newcastle Emlyn and Cardigan were using wading equipment and boats to reach homes.Among those rescued was a pregnant woman and fire crews from Crymych, Newcastle Emlyn and Cardigan were using wading equipment and boats to reach homes.
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. Earlier, as the high tide hit south Wales, police were called to move people from Burry Port pier in Carmarthenshire.
In the Vale of Glamorgan a woman is trapped by flood water in a caravan in Llantwit Major.
Some homes in Newport were evacuated overnight as a precaution.
As well as the four severe flood warnings in force in Wales, there are another 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.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. The council had crews working through the night helping out at flooding incidents. More staff are now being called in from annual leave to help if needed as the bad weather is forecast for 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." Up to 50 caravans have been flooded at Carmarthen Bay caravan park in Kidwelly.
Up to 50 caravans have been flooded at Carmarthen Bay caravan park in Kidwelly, he added. In Pendine the high tide was reported to have smashed through flood boards put up 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. The high tide - thought to be 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. Pembrokeshire council has already advised householders and business owners whose properties are at risk of flooding to prepare for continued high tides over the weekend by stocking up on sandbags and tarpaulins at local builders' merchants.
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. Some homes in Newport were evacuated overnight as a precaution.
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 affected.
"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). Joanne Sherwood, from Natural Resources Wales (NRW), said: "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.
"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 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."
North Wales Police also warned people not to put themselves and the emergency services at risk by visiting flooded areas or seafronts to take pictures.
Properties at risk are on the seafront at the harbour and Heol Llywelyn and Heol y Llan.
In Monmouthshire, the council said was was closing the A466 at Tintern for 20 minutes each side of the high tide.
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.
"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.