Rescue work continues following flooding in northwest England

Rescue work continues following flooding in northwest England

Rescue services, the fire brigade and members of the local community fought against rising flood waters to rescue stranded people in the northwest English city of Carlisle on Sunday (December 6), as prolonged heavy rain caused widespread flooding across the region.

Britain’s emergency response committee met earlier on Sunday after storms battered the country overnight, killing one man and leaving hundreds of homes flooded and without power. The emergency services have been forced to evacuate residents from their homes.

Police said they believed one man was killed in London, which also experienced high winds, after he was blown into the side of a moving bus. There were no other reports of deaths or injuries.

Emergency services had been evacuating homes by boat and helicopter, and the local community has come together to offer support for those most vulnerable.

The priest at a local church, Reverend Keith Teasdale, said his church had been damaged by the flood waters but was more concerned about helping members of the community who may be in danger.

“I am anxious to get back (to the church) to assess the damage and see exactly what has happened but I am more concerned that there are neighbours who might not have got out, or elderly people who have been affected. We did help our neighbours, some elderly neighbours, we helped to lift their furniture upstairs and I gather everyone has been safely lifted. But we are just around to see if we can give any help,” he said.

Britain has suffered several heavy floods in recent years. In 2014 thousands of acres of farmland in the south of the country were submerged for weeks and the northwest region was badly flooded in both 2009 and 2005.

The worst of the storm responsible for the flooding, named ‘Desmond’ by the Met office, had passed according to forecasters but more wet weather was expected in coming days.

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