Residents of 29 homes in Aberdulais, near Neath, have been advised to evacuate as Storm Callum brings severe flooding and high winds to Wales. The Met Office has issued an amber warning for heavy rain across south Wales, with the entire country under a wind warning.
Fire crews rescued up to 30 passengers from a train stranded in floodwater at Penrhiwceiber, near Mountain Ash, on Friday evening. Services between Cardiff and Aberdare have been cancelled, adding to transport chaos for commuters. Trains between Swansea and Carmarthen also stopped running at 19:00 due to anticipated coastal flooding.
Winds reached 72mph at Capel Curig in Conwy, and 15mm of rain fell in three hours near St Davids. The M48 Severn crossing near Chepstow is closed eastbound and restricted for high-sided vehicles westbound. The A55 Britannia Bridge near Bangor is open only to cars and vans, with a 30mph speed limit lifted.
Thousands of homes are without power, mainly due to falling branches and debris damaging lines, according to Western Power Distribution. Affected areas include Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Anglesey, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Newport, and parts of Cardiff. Bryngwran School on Anglesey closed due to a power cut.
Natural Resources Wales deployed pumps as a precaution in Carmarthenshire as river levels continued to rise. The rivers Neath and Dulais converge at Aberdulais, where officials are monitoring levels. Local councillor Doreen Jones expressed hope that river levels would stabilise.
Ferry crossings to Ireland have been cancelled by Irish Ferries and Stena Line. Dyfed-Powys Police urged motorists to take care on rural roads, and the A5 eastbound from Bethesda to Capel Curig remains closed overnight due to a landslip.
