A UK town centre that sits under the Met Office’s rare “danger to life” red warning has been left submerged in water at Storm Dennis batters the country.
Dramatic pictures and video footage has emerged of floodwater gushing down the high street of Pontypridd, a town 12 miles from Cardiff in south Wales.
Stores like Costa Coffee, H.Samuel and Card Factory can be seen deep in flooding after the River Taff burst its banks as two months of rain falls in just 24 hours.
Footage showed cars attempted to drive through the high street with the water gushing over bonnets as waves rippled down the entire street.
UK weather: Storm Dennis leaves UK under water as 500+ flood alerts issued
UK weather: Storm Dennis forces Met Office 'red warning' amid 'threat to life' fears
It is feared the flooding could worsen throughout the day with the Met Office’s rain warning for the area – downgraded from red to amber at 11am – in place until 3pm.
The warning currently reads: “Prolonged, heavy rain is expected leading to 60-80 mm rain widely whilst in a few places 100-120 mm is possible.”
The warning adds that the floodwater could cause a “danger to life”, that “extensive flooding of homes and businesses is possible” and that “damage to buildings and structures or building collapse might happen”.
It also warns of power cuts and loss of gas, water or mobile phone services, ands that communities could be completely cut off “perhaps for several days”.
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The flooding started in Pontypridd this morning following a night of heavy rain, with locals voicing their shock at the scenes on social media.
One wrote: “Thoughts with the very tired social and comms teams at @NatResWales, @swpolice and @SWFireandRescue this morning.
“My hometown of Pontypridd has had the heart ripped out of it by #StormDennis.”
As well as the town centre, train lines in south Wales were also submerged in floodwater while houses along the river edge in Taffs Well were left devastated as swollen banks gave way.
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The Environment Agency currently has two “severe flood warnings” in place for England as of 11.30am – meaning “severe flooding, danger to life”.
This is for the River Terne in Eardiston and River Terne in Tenbury Wells and Burford – both in Worcestershire.
It has also issued 236 flood warnings – meaning that “flooding is expected, immediate action required”.
And it has put out 335 flood alerts – meaning “flooding is possible – be prepared” as torrential rain continues to lash the nation.
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In Wales there are two severe flood warnings, 85 warnings and 61 alerts.
The severe warnings are in place for the River Taff at Pontypridd and River Neath at Aberdulais.
The storm is set to move out to sea in the middle of the day, leaving Britain to clear up the damage left behind by the second big storm in just two weeks.
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