Residents of Iford Bridge Home Park near Christchurch, Dorset, have been told to evacuate after a severe flood warning was issued for the River Stour. The site, home to 80 homes, is expected to see water levels rise nearly four metres around 2pm today, with power likely to be affected.
The evacuation comes as Storm Chandra continues to cause widespread disruption across the UK. Yesterday, a man in his 60s died after his lorry entered the River Avon near the New Forest. Emergency services attended the scene, but he was pronounced dead, and local roads were closed for several hours.
Paul Lacey, chairman of the residents’ association, said this is the third time in ten years that people have been forced to leave. He noted that most homes are raised, so the main concerns are access and electricity loss. Many vulnerable residents must evacuate because they rely on heating.
Across the UK, hundreds of flood warnings and alerts remain in place. There are 99 flood warnings and 260 flood alerts in England, while Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland also have warnings. A major incident was declared in Somerset yesterday, and yellow weather warnings for ice and rain have been issued for parts of the country.
Search and rescue teams have been active in flooded areas, including Northern Ireland, Kent, and County Durham. In Devon and Somerset, firefighters rescued people from 25 vehicles in floodwater on Tuesday morning. Rachel Shepherd, a local resident, described the flooding as the worst she has seen, with the River Frome bursting its banks in multiple places.
