The town of Whaley Bridge, just outside Manchester, has seen its 6,500 residents evacuated on Thursday amidst fears that the nearby Toddbrook Reservoir wall could collapse following heavy rainfall. Already, a part of the wall has been damaged by the rain.
The Met Office issued a severe flood warning for the river Goyt, meaning there is a threat to life, and police have told residents to gather at a local school in neighbouring Chapel-en-le-Frith, bringing pets and medication with them. The police are unsure how long rainfall will continue, and how long residents will have to stay in the school. The potential dam collapse constitutes a critical danger to residents, as in this event, the water would flow straight towards the Derbyshire town.
The end of the rainfall is not yet in sight, as continued heavy rains are forecast for the next few days.
