Live updates: Whaley Bridge evacuated as dam wall collapses

Summary

Workers race to drain water from Toddbrook Reservoir
Nearby Whaley Bridge evacuated yesterday when heavy rain damaged dam wall
Around 1,500 people are thought to have left the town
Fire crews pumping water out while Chinook helicopter helps shore up wall
Reservoir level reduced by more than half a metre so far
PM Boris Johnson arrives to meet those affected
Residents to be allowed home to collect belongings
Roads around town remain closed and trains disrupted

Live Reporting

Nick Smith

Crews working through the nightpublished at 03:56 British Summer Time 2 August 2019
Firefighters from Staveley have tweeted a brief clip from the scene as emergency workers continue attempts to make the dam safe.
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'Emergency services still arriving'published at 03:15 British Summer Time 2 August 2019
Annabel Tiffin
Presenter, BBC North West Tonight
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Live coverage on Radio Manchesterpublished at 01:48 British Summer Time 2 August 2019
Our colleagues at BBC Radio Manchester will be staying with this story throughout the night - you can listen here.
Dam wall collapse: Round-up of day's eventspublished at 00:01 British Summer Time 2 August 2019
Sonia Kataria
BBC News
- Damage appeared in the wall of Toddbrook Reservoir dam, which holds 300 million gallons of water, this morning following heavy rain.
- In the afternoon, the town's 6,500 people were told to evacuate to a school in neighbouring Chapel-en-le-Frith.
- Engineers and emergency services are working through the night to reduce the water level and shore up the damaged dam.
- A Chinook helicopter will be used to drop aggregate and control the flow of water.
- About 20 roads in the town and nearby areas are closed.
- More heavy rain could fall overnight.
Mountain rescuers helped with town's evacuationpublished at 23:45 British Summer Time 1 August 2019
Sonia Kataria
BBC News
All seven of the Peak District's mountain rescue teams were deployed to the emergency at Toddbrook reservoir.
The Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation (PDMRO) said: "The volunteer teams helped emergency services by supporting the evacuation of residents and providing manpower at the scene itself."
Image source, PA Media
Town evacuated as dam wall collapsespublished at 23:39 British Summer Time 1 August 2019
Police tell Whaley Bridge's 6,500 residents to gather at a school amid fears a reservoir could burst.
Read More
Chinook helicopter will move aggregatepublished at 23:25 British Summer Time 1 August 2019
Derbyshire Police say a Chinook helicopter will be used to allow "precise placement of the aggregate and divert the flow of the water".
Ten specialist high-volume pumping appliances, along with specially-trained fire and rescue flood advisors, have also been brought to Whaley Bridge.
Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Swann added: “With all that said, at this time the future of the dam wall remains in the balance and I would remind people of the very real danger posed to them should the wall collapse."
Aggregate being used to divert waterpublished at 23:16 British Summer Time 1 August 2019
Here's an update on how emergency services plan to tackle the situation at the dam.
According to Derbyshire Police, they will:
- Use 400 tonnes of aggregate to divert water from entering the reservoir and into other surrounding watercourses designed for this purpose.
- Use water pumps to remove water from the reservoir to relieve pressure on the dam wall.
- Once the above measures reduce the water to a level that is safe – work will then begin on the dam wall itself.
Mountain Rescue on standbypublished at 22:23 British Summer Time 1 August 2019
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Currie: Evacuees 'moved from school to hotel'published at 22:04 British Summer Time 1 August 2019
Sonia Kataria
BBC News
Former Conservative MP Edwina Currie, who lives in Whaley Bridge, has tweeted the latest on the residents evacuated to Chapel-en-le-Frith High School.
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Ms Currie also thanked the emergency services and Derbyshire County Council, who "worked like mad today, non-stop, all very cool and collected".
'Eerie feeling in Whaley Bridge tonight'published at 21:55 British Summer Time 1 August 2019
Annabel Tiffin
Presenter, BBC North West Tonight
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Cuppas for the copperspublished at 21:51 British Summer Time 1 August 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
Residents have been making sure police have plenty of refreshments available.
Long Eaton and Sandiacre Police SNT posted on Facebook: "We are at Whaley Bridge on a road closure... the hospitality from the local residents has been brilliant."
Image source, Long Eaton and Sandiacre Police SNT
Image source, Long Eaton and Sandiacre Police SNT
'I am humbled at the spirit of the community'published at 21:43 British Summer Time 1 August 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
More from the Environment Agency's Lee Rawlinson, who has some positive words for the people of Whaley Bridge after a difficult day...
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He also said the cause of the damage remained unknown, but he believed the last inspection on Toddbrook Reservoir dam was last year and the "conditions were okay".
Pharmacy offering emergency medicationpublished at 21:37 British Summer Time 1 August 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
A pharmacy in Buxton is offering emergency medication to Whaley Bridge residents.
In a statement on its Facebook page, Tideswell Pharmacy said: "Due to the situation in Whaley Bridge, we have been contacted by NHS England this evening to activate the Community Pharmacy Emergency Supply protocol.
"This means that residents of Whaley Bridge are able to visit our pharmacy directly to obtain an emergency supply of their medication without visiting their GP surgery."
Image source, Google
Whaley Bridge 'can be really proud'published at 21:33 British Summer Time 1 August 2019
Sonia Kataria
BBC News
The Environment Agency has said about 85% of people in Whaley Bridge have evacuated their homes.
Area director Lee Rawlinson said community spirit has been "fantastic".
"A lot of people have gone up to Chapel or to other relatives. Whaley Bridge can be really proud," he said.
Image source, Reuters
Woman opens home to friends and familypublished at 21:27 British Summer Time 1 August 2019
BBC Radio Manchester
BBC Radio Manchester's Andy Bell has been sitting in the front room of a Chapel-en-le-Frith woman who's opened up her home to friends and family displaced from Whaley Bridge.
Bev, who has opened her doors, said: "There's mum, dad, my two friends Ange and Susie here, and another should be but he's at the pub."
On today's events, she added: "It's horrible, especially as I'm from Whaley as well."
Image source, PA Media
Ange added: "I feel trapped not being able to go home since this morning. I'm worried about everyone and what’s going to happen to Whaley Bridge.
We get up in the morning and it’s sunshine, getting on with your daily life, and all of a sudden this unfolds. It’s just surreal."
Airbnb in free accommodation bidpublished at 21:25 British Summer Time 1 August 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
Airbnb is offering to help people displaced by the Whaley Bridge evacuation.
Its programme Open Homes connects people in need of urgent accommodation to Airbnb hosts who are willing to open up their homes free of charge.
An Airbnb spokeswoman said: "We are trying to reach as many people affected as possible, as well as spread the word to Airbnb hosts in the area so that they can list their home for free and assist in housing those in need."
Currently, 14 people are offering free accommodation and more information can be found by clicking here, external.
Residents share their concernspublished at 21:09 British Summer Time 1 August 2019
BBC Radio Manchester
Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester...
Quote Message
My dad’s not very well at the moment and he lives at the other end of Whaley Bridge. I went to visit him tonight and I couldn’t get through. There must be other elderly people in that situation.”
Julie
Quote Message
The reservoir normally is tranquil and there are sailing boats on it but it’s a different story today. If that breaks, you can imagine the impact it’s going to have. People need to think very carefully about these weather events.”
Kevin
Engineers to work through 'expected heavy rain'published at 21:02 British Summer Time 1 August 2019
Sonia Kataria
BBC News
Lee Rawlinson, area director of the Environment Agency, said teams were expecting some heavy rain during the night.
"Our engineers are working through the night, but their health and safety is paramount. We’ve got mountain rescue with them too so all the right people are in the right place," he said.
“The Canal and River Trust is trying to pump down the water levels to allow the engineers better access to the wall."
My daughter 'packed the cat and went'published at 21:00 British Summer Time 1 August 2019
BBC News
A woman said her daughter made an early exit from Whaley Bridge, pet cat in hand, after she told her about a video showing a hole forming in the Toddbrook Reservoir dam.
Kathryn Harrison, who is currently staying at her sister's, said: "Today at work I saw a WhatsApp message from my nephew’s fiancé showing a video of a hole appearing on the dam’s wall.
Image source, PA Media
"As soon as I saw it I phoned my daughter to tell her to go to my sister’s, which is about a 10-minute walk away. She packed the cat and went!"