Families evacuated from their homes as Storm Bert causes huge landslide with roads flooded after major incident declared
FAMILIES have been evacuated from their homes after a huge landslide flooded roads as Storm Bert continues to cause chaos.
Footage on social media shows buildings in the Cwmtillery area of Abertillery, Wales, deep in sludge and mud as water pours down what appears to be a street.
Another video circulating online shows a white vehicle stuck swamped among muck and rocks.
Some residents have already been evacuated to a local leisure centre, the council said.
Blaenau Gwent council said: “We are aware that a number of households in the Cwmtillery area of Abertillery have been evacuated by emergency services.
“We are making arrangements for those affected and a rest centre has been set up at Abertillery Sports Centre. We are on site with partners assessing the situation.”
Local resident Wayne Green said his whole street had been evacuated to the leisure centre late on Sunday night.
Previously, he said that the fire service had told him they were leaving an engine at the bottom of the street overnight.
“If any of the residents hear a siren then we have got to evacuate and they told us which route to take,” he told the BBC.
“They’re going door to door telling the residents which way to evacuate the street if there is another slip,” Wayne added.
As news of the landslide spread online, those in the area were quick to offer help and support.
One wrote: “Happy to ferry people who can’t drive and we’ve blankets that can be used.”
Another said: “These comments show how beautiful Wales is!!!! I have a camper van I’m not using can be parked and has a double bed and heater in tredegar based.
A third commented: “I have a spare room if anyone needs a place to stay tonight.”
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they have two fire engines at the scene.
Meanwhile, a major incident has been declared in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area of South Wales, which has been one of the worst-hit areas with 80 per cent of a month’s rain falling in less than 48 hours.
Between two and three hundred properties have been affected by flooding in the area, while the Environment Agency (EA) estimates 80 properties in England have flooded so far.
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council said the impact of the flooding was “looking to be more significant than the severe impact experienced during Storm Dennis” in 2020.
At a press conference in Pontypridd on Sunday afternoon, council leader Andrew Morgan said the weather was worse than forecast.
“I am amazed that it was only a yellow weather warning issued,” he said.
“We absolutely thought on Saturday… we were preparing for the possibility of an amber warning.
“It didn’t come but we took the decision ourselves to step up our resources and have depots open and crews in.
“I am surprised there wasn’t a red warning issued. During Storm Dennis we saw an amber warning in advance and a red warning issued in the early hours. I do think that will need to be reviewed shortly.”
Rest centres have been set up for residents impacted at Pontypridd Library, Ystrad Sports Centre, Sobell Leisure Centre and Cynon Valley Indoor Bowls Centre.