Whaley Bridge dam wall collapse in pictures

  • Published
Helicopter drops suppliesImage source, Danny Lawson/PA Media
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Sandbags are being dropped to shore up the dam

Emergency work is under way to repair the Toddbrook Reservoir dam in Derbyshire after it was damaged by heavy rain.

About 1,500 residents were evacuated from Whaley Bridge on Thursday evening amid fears they were in "mortal danger".

Engineers pumped water out of the reservoir in an attempt to stop up to 300 million gallons of water bursting through the damaged dam.

An RAF Chinook has been flying in repair materials to shore up the dam and has dropped more than 500 tonnes of aggregate.

Helicopter flies in over reservoirImage source, Yui Mok/PA Media
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Efforts are being made to release water from the reservoir while also shoring up the dam

Chinook hovers over damImage source, Yui Mok/PA Media
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The operation has been going since Thursday

Helicopter flies in over misty valleyImage source, Getty Images
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The helicopter has come and gone from the scene

People and a dog watch the helicopter repairImage source, Getty Images
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Police, the Environment Agency and the Canal and River Trust have all said there is a "real risk" the dam could collapse

Dam wallImage source, PA Media
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By Saturday morning, sandbags dropped by the helicopter covered most of the collapsed section

View of the dam from the topImage source, @fraglast/PA Media
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Part of the reservoir's spillway broke away on Thursday

The collapsed damImage source, Reuters
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Engineers feared Whaley Bridge could be swamped if the Toddbrook Reservoir burst

Aerial view of damImage source, AFP Photo/Derbyshire Constabulary
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Heavy rain caused damage to the dam

The collapsed damImage source, Reuters
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Most of the residents of Whaley Bridge were evacuated on Thursday

Emergency workers in Whaley BridgeImage source, PA Media
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Residents were asked to gather in the neighbouring town of Chapel-en-le-Frith

Toddbrook ReservoirImage source, PA Media
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The dam was built in 1831

Emergency workers in Whaley BridgeImage source, PA Media
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Teams have been working non-stop to try to stop the dam from bursting

Whaley BridgeImage source, PA Media
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Whaley Bridge town centre was said to be like a ghost town after residents and business people left

General view of the villageImage source, Reuters/Phil Noble
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The water level has now been reduced significantly

Dam recoveryImage source, BBC Panorama
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Engineers have built two roads to allow pumps to be moved closer to the site

Dam sceneImage source, BBC Panorama
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About 20 residents remain in properties despite warnings they are at risk

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