Hundreds evacuated from village over fears that crumbling dam will burst

Hundreds more people were evacuated from their homes in Wales yesterday in a new flooding alert.

North Wales Police evacuated residents from the village of Pennal, near Machynlleth, Powys, following a breach in the dam of a local reservoir.

A police spokeswoman said residents were being transported to Machynlleth Leisure Centre.

“Staff from the local councils, representatives from the local water board, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and officers from North Wales Police are at the scene working to stabilise the situation,” she said. “At this current time it is thought that the breach may have been caused by a landslide.”

Superintendent Andy Jenks-Gilbert said the evacuation was taking place as a precautionary measure.

A crack had been found in a stone wall at the reservoir and a small amount of water had escaped, he said.

“Should the wall be completely breached, the contents of the reservoir will go into the river which flows through the village of Pennal, which is around half a mile from the reservoir.

“Police officers are evacuating residents in the area and would ask visitors and locals to avoid the village at this current time.”

The drama came as hundreds of people evacuated following flash flooding 20 miles away were returning to their homes and caravans yesterday.

Villages in the county of Ceredigion were flooded by up to five feet of water on Saturday.

Some 150 residents and holidaymakers were rescued and evacuated from homes and caravan parks near Aberystwyth after twice as much rain fell in 24 hours as normally falls in the area in the whole of June.

Fire crews were again working around the clock, continuing to pump out water from a number of locations.

Although many roads have reopened, a flood warning remained in place and water had yet to recede fully in some places.

A number of caravans and tents in the Aberystwyth Holiday Park remained cut off from land – with some occupants surveying any possible damage from afar. Among the worst affected areas were Talybont, Dol-y-bont, Llandre, and Penrhyncoch.

The RNLI’s flood rescue teams helped people to safety at Aberystwyth Holiday Village and rescues also took place at Riverside Caravan Park in Llandre, near Aberystwyth, Mill House Caravan Park at Dol-y-bont, Sea Rivers caravan park, Ynyslas, and Glanlerry Caravan Park, near Borth.

Although the weather has stayed largely dry since the flooding, agency officials reminded people to stay away from rivers and flooded areas. Resident Alun Williams, 64, said: “The general feeling here is one of shock. Yes it could have been a lot worse, but I’ve not heard one person say how lucky they are. I just hope it doesn’t put people off from coming back.”

Some 150 people were rescued and evacuated to rest centres, but police said the overall number who left their homes was nearer 1,000.

Senior politicians, including Prime Minister David Cameron, paid tribute to rescuers who ensured there were no serious casualties.

Dyfed-Powys Police said three people needed treatment for minor injuries.

The first minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, spoke of his shock at the extent of the damage and praised the bravery of emergency crews.

“Having spent a number of years living and studying in Aberystwyth, I was deeply shocked to see the extent of the damage caused by the flooding in an area I know so well,” he said.