Environment

Three killed as storms and torrential rain batter Britain

by LotusFlower | September 6, 2008 at 12:23 am

345 views | 20 Recommendations | 6 comments

Two months of rain fell in one day in some parts of Britain causing widespread flooding and at least 3 deaths. The worse affected areas are in Wales but severe weather warnings are now in place for the North East of England. Though not on the scale of storms around the world this is the latest in a series of extreme rain storms over the last year and a half that have seen communites flooded out - communities that up until recently did not suffer this kind of flooding. Global warming is cited as a possible cause but other causes are thought to include the development for housing of vast tracts of land on flood plains and poor water retention bulit into new developments seeing extra run-off.

The 17-year-old was killed when the 4x4 she was travelling in overturned and plunged into a swollen river in Mid Wales.

She was airlifted from a remote area of forestry in Powys, mid Wales, along with two other people who were in the vehicle, but died shortly after arriving at a hospital.

Inspector Robert Price, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said the incident happened at about 5.45pm in the Llyn Briane Reservoir area of the county on Friday. He said: "A 4x4 overturned and came to rest in a river.

"Three people have been airlifted to Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth, two of them suffering from hypothermia.

"One casualty tragically died following arrival at the hospital."

The weather has also been blamed for causing a car accident which killed a young couple named as Barry Rowe, 29, and mother-of-one Rebecca Hoynes, 30.

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Jordan Yerman

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 07:39 on September 6th, 2008

A flood update:

The Environment Agency says Morpeth in Northumberland is under water but flood waters are receding in Wales where one person was killed on Friday.

The Agency has issued more than 80 flood warnings in England and Wales, five of which are severe.

The Environment Agency has warned of an increased threat of flooding as rainwater drains into river systems.

A severe flood warning is in place covering parts of south east Manchester.

In the Pickering area of North Yorkshire, several properties and roads have been flooded after the local beck burst its banks.

Thanks for posting this, LotusFlower.

Amy Judd

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 13:48 on September 6th, 2008

LotusFlower, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Beaulieu

at 14:07 on September 6th, 2008

It's raining in West Kent now but so far it is mainly the odd large puddle. The River Medway hasn't burst it's banks yet.

Amy Judd

at 14:07 on September 6th, 2008

Good news! I hope it doesn't!

Beaulieu

at 14:17 on September 6th, 2008

We had a massive flood in 1968 and older residents said they used to get dead cows floating in the High Street. Now, we have a dam, we don't get dead cows anymore. However, I think if the dam bursts, we will probably get the whole herd instead.

liamssoft

at 08:45 on September 8th, 2008

Developments on flood planes, allowing watercourses to silt up and lack of drain cleaning are responsible for much of the flooding. After nearly a month of constant rain the authorities had ample warning of what was about to happen.