Landslip warning and flooding follow heavy rain in Wales

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River Towy at CarmarthenImage source, Dafydd Williams
Image caption,

The River Towy at Carmarthen flooded on Saturday

A landslip at a coal tip is being investigated by engineers following heavy rain.

Rhondda Cynon Taf council leader Andrew Morgan said about a 40-50m section had slipped at Wattstown, although he did not believe it posed a risk to the nearby Rhondda bypass.

Elsewhere, parts of Carmarthen have flooded after the River Towy burst its banks.

Flood warnings and alerts, external remain in place in some parts of Wales.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) warned people to "take extra care and keep a safe distance" from river banks.

Mr Morgan said the Wattstown site has been the focus of drone checks every two weeks after a landslip at nearby Tylorstown in February.

No properties are in the vicinity of the latest landslip, he said.

"It looks far worse than it is but it's the second landslip this year," he said.

Image source, Richard Hatcher
Image caption,

Engineers are investigating the landslip at Wattstown

Rhondda MP Chris Bryant tweeted, external that "everything that needs to be done will be done".

Wales is set to get £31m for essential flood repairs. The money would help repair areas - including coal tips - damaged by Storm Dennis in February.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said it had "already commissioned work to develop options" for the Wattstown site and it would work with council and the Coal Authority to provide "necessary support".

'Clearing stock after flooding'

Image source, Dafydd Williams
Image caption,

More heavy rain is expected following severe flooding in Carmarthenshire

Carmarthenshire was severely flooded by the River Towy on Saturday, with local businesses badly affected.

Dafydd Williams, from Llangunnor, said: ""High tide was 09:30 GMT this morning and we've got another high tide again around 16:30 GMT, so another coming in this afternoon.

"Businesses have already been badly hit by Covid and having to close at 18:00 every day, now they're clearing stock from where they've been flooded."

Image caption,

Flooded roads affected driving conditions around Carmarthen town centre

Parts of the Brecon Beacons had the most rainfall in Wales on Friday - with 98mm falling at Llyn-y-Fan in Carmarthenshire, making it the third wettest place in the UK.

The village of Tyn-y-Waun in Bridgend county was Wales' second wettest with 82mm (3.2in) on Friday, according to NRW data.

That compares to Wales' average December rainfall of 166mm (6.5in) for the whole month.

Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

Emergency services rescued a delivery driver stranded in flood waters

In Newbridge on Usk, Monmouthshire a delivery driver had to be rescued from flood waters as river levels rose in the heavy rain.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) warned people to "take extra care and keep a safe distance" from river banks.

It comes after the Met Office issued a weather warning for rain on Friday.

Image caption,

Carmarthen town centre was flooded

Image source, Dafydd Williams
Image caption,

Streets and roads were flooded by the River Towy in Carmarthen

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