TRAINS DISRUPTED BY UK FLOODS
Posted on 29 November 2009
Widespread disruption to train services in Britain and Ireland followed the heaviest rain ever recorded in the UK on 20 November. Britain’s Met Office said a record 314.4mm fell in 24 hours in Cockermouth, in the Lake District. More than 200 people were rescued in the area and at least 960 homes were flooded.
As the airforce evacuated victims, a 44-year-old police officer died as a bridge collapsed under pressure from surging waters, amid frantic attempts to rescue people from stricken towns and villages.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn briefed Britain’s cabinet by telephone from the scene. He told the BBC that flood defences were meant to withstand a one-in-100-years flood – but could not cope with the unprecedented volume of water.
“What we dealt with last night was probably more like one-in-a-1,000”. The rain stopped and floodwaters began to ease on Friday 20 November, giving rescuers a chance to reach trapped people by boat.
Police urged people not to travel, as many roads were impassable. Two bridges collapsed in the town of Workington, including a main crossing over the River Derwent.
In Ireland, the army deployed helicopters, soldiers, vehicles and flat-bottomed boats to evacuate people trapped by floodwaters in cars and homes. The floods caused transport chaos along Ireland’s western coast, with many major roads blocked and train services cancelled.
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