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At least 3 dead as U.K. issues severe flood alerts

Digital Writers
The Weather Network

Tuesday, February 18th 2020, 11:30 am - According to Natural Resources Wales (NRW), 163 mm of rain fell between Friday and Sunday

The impacts of Storm Dennis continue to be felt in the U.K. as the resulting floods are being called “unprecedented” after a month’s worth of rain fell in Wales in a two-day period.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW), which deemed the floods as exceptional, said 163 mm of rain fell in 48 hours from Friday through to Sunday. More than 200 flood warnings are in place across the U.K., including six severe or "danger to life" warnings for the rivers Lugg, Severn and Wye.

According to officials, the storm has killed at least three people in Britain, including one woman that was swept away by floodwater in the English town of Tenbury.

The south Wales valleys recorded the highest water levels in more than 40 years on the weekend, according to Jeremy Parr, head of flood and risk management at NRW.

READ MORE: Climate change means longer take-offs and fewer passengers per flight

More rain is also in the forecast for later in the week, as the Met Office issued a yellow warning from 6 p.m. local time Wednesday until 3 p.m. local time on Thursday for much of Wales.

'SIGNIFICANT DELAYS' EXPECTED, EXTENT OF DAMAGE BEING REVIEWED

First Minister Mark Drakeford will look at options for help with the aftermath. He said a full assessment of flood defences, roads and infrastructure would happen before discussions about costs takes place.

There are cancellations and significant delays on trains, and roads across south and mid Wales remain blocked by floods and landslips. Transport for Wales engineers are examining the full extent of damage but the company warned of "significant delays" in many areas and asked passengers to check their train routes Monday.

More than 200 services affected Monday and more than 70 trips were cancelled.

PROPERTIES FLOODED

According to the Environment Agency, more than 400 properties had been flooded. In Nantgarw, Rhondda Cynon Taff, more than 100 homes were affected after the river burst its banks and cars were towed away after being submerged.

"I looked downstairs in the early hours to see a settee floating at the bottom of my stairs," resident Susan Fraser told Oliver Hides on BBC Radio Wales.

"But there have been a lot of people worse than us. A lot of people evacuated.

"The whole of our community was under water," she added.

Vanessa Pitman, who lives in Taff's Well, said her partner found water "gushing" from of their downstairs toilet and flood levels almost rose to the ceiling in her house. "We've just lost everything," she said in an interview with BBC. "The only floor that's OK is in the attic, everything else is ruined..."

DEATHS REPORTED

A woman who went missing in floods after her car became trapped in water is believed to have perished, police said. The woman disappeared on Sunday near a bridge that crosses the River Teme near Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire.

The search resumed earlier but is now a "recovery rather than rescue mission", according to West Mercia Police.

On Saturday, two bodies were pulled from rough seas Saturday as Storm Dennis plowed through the region. The body of one man was found after a significant search operation off Margate, Kent, while the other was located at Herne Bay.

Lifeboats and the coastguard helicopter were scouring the sea near Margate Harbour following reports that a man went overboard, the HM Coastguard said. As well, HMS Westminster was believed to have responded to a relay call, and has been in the area, according to ship-tracking data.

Sources: BBC | BreakingNews.ie | Sky News

VIDEO:ROOF SWAYS DRAMATICALLY OVER BASKETBALL COURT AS STORM DENNIS ROLLS THROUGH FRANCE

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