Miracle Escape as Landslide Damages Two Homes in Herefordshire Village
In a startling incident that residents are calling a "miracle", a massive landslide struck the village of Hoarwithy in Herefordshire, severely damaging two properties but leaving no one injured. The cliff collapse occurred at 9pm last Friday, sending rubble crashing down and prompting emergency services to seal off the area.
Family's Lucky Escape from Devastating Collapse
One of the affected homes belonged to a family who were fortunately out at the time, avoiding what could have been a disastrous outcome. Neighbour Sam Lawrence-Lewis, 32, described the scene: "I was alerted to it by a lorry driver who had noticed an electric cable had come down. I went out and saw this huge landslide had damaged two houses nearby." He immediately called emergency services, with police and fire crews responding swiftly to secure the site.
The worst-hit property suffered significant structural damage, with part of the back wall left mangled and twisted. Lawrence-Lewis added, "Luckily, she and her family were out, which is just as well as it did quite a bit of damage." The other property was an empty cottage undergoing renovation, which had already been partially demolished.
Concerns Over Cause and Previous Incidents
Residents expressed concerns that the landslide might have been exacerbated by recent land clearing. Lawrence-Lewis noted, "We fear the cause could have been contributed to the new owner of the cottage clearing loads of trees along the bank." The new owner, who purchased the property at auction six months ago, had reportedly run into planning permission issues, leaving the site as an "eyesore".
This is not the first landslide in the area, with a previous incident occurring a few years ago. Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "I thought there had been an earthquake. There was a landslide before, but this one was worse. It's a miracle nobody was hurt or killed."
Aftermath and Council Response
The homeowner, Suzanne, shared her emotional response with the BBC, stating she feels "lucky" her family was away. She added, "Every time I come out here I end up crying." The family is now grappling with a new normal, as Suzanne explained, "We're just trying to make sense of where we go from here, because obviously it's going to be a really long time to put this right."
Herefordshire Council is currently awaiting the results of a survey on the rock face to determine if the adjacent road can safely reopen. The road remains closed as authorities assess the stability and potential risks.
The incident has left the community shaken but grateful for the fortunate escape, highlighting the unpredictable nature of such geological events in rural areas.
