Whaley Bridge dam wall collapse in pictures

  • Published
Helicopter drops suppliesImage source, Danny Lawson/PA Media
Image caption,

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.

Image source, Yui Mok/PA Media
Image caption,

Efforts are being made to release water from the reservoir while also shoring up the dam

Image source, Yui Mok/PA Media
Image caption,

The operation has been going since Thursday

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

The helicopter has come and gone from the scene

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Police, the Environment Agency and the Canal and River Trust have all said there is a "real risk" the dam could collapse

Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

By Saturday morning, sandbags dropped by the helicopter covered most of the collapsed section

Image source, @fraglast/PA Media
Image caption,

Part of the reservoir's spillway broke away on Thursday

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,

Engineers feared Whaley Bridge could be swamped if the Toddbrook Reservoir burst

Image source, AFP Photo/Derbyshire Constabulary
Image caption,

Heavy rain caused damage to the dam

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,

Most of the residents of Whaley Bridge were evacuated on Thursday

Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

Residents were asked to gather in the neighbouring town of Chapel-en-le-Frith

Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

The dam was built in 1831

Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

Teams have been working non-stop to try to stop the dam from bursting

Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

Whaley Bridge town centre was said to be like a ghost town after residents and business people left

Image source, Reuters/Phil Noble
Image caption,

The water level has now been reduced significantly

Image source, BBC Panorama
Image caption,

Engineers have built two roads to allow pumps to be moved closer to the site

Image source, BBC Panorama
Image caption,

About 20 residents remain in properties despite warnings they are at risk

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, external, on Twitter, external, or on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk, external.