Storm Christoph news – live: Flood warnings in Manchester, Wales, Yorkshire as hundreds evacuated from homes
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Your support makes all the difference.Widespread flooding across England and Wales has led to hundreds of people having been evacuated from their homes overnight, with “danger to life” warnings in place.
People living in parts of Manchester, North Wales and Merseyside have been affected and around 2,000 homes were evacuated.
There are currently over 200 flood warnings in place for the UK. Several of them are for severe flooding with a “danger to life.”
Yellow weather warnings have also been issued for rain, snow and ice in parts of Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the northwest of England. Meanwhile, The Environment Agency has said that many rivers are at “dangerously high levels.”
Prime minister Boris Johnson announced that the government is "totally prepared" for the crisis. People have also been told they may leave their homes in an emergency, even with Covid rules in place.
Landslip on train line between Manchester and Huddersfield
All rail services between Manchester Victoria and Huddersfield have been cancelled due to a landslip caused by heavy rain and snow.
Network Rail advised people to check before travelling and said staff were working to resolve the issue.
Cheshire pensioners rescued by boat from retirement home
Pensioners at a retirement village are being evacuated from Weaver Court in Northwich. The 49 residents and staff were cut off by flooding brought on by Storm Christoph.
Firefighters have begun a rescue operation using boats to take residents to safety in a nearby hotel.
A councillor said the residents and staff were “safe and in good spirits.”
Labour MP for Weaver Vale, Mike Amesbury, called the situation: “drastic.” He added that residents were: "anxious, elderly and frail and feel somewhat stranded".
South Wales Police recover body from Cardiff river
Police have confirmed that the body of a man has been recovered from the River Taff near Blackweir in Cardiff today.
South Wales Police received a call this morning from a member of the public who reported what they thought was a body in the river.
The call was made just after 9am and emergency services spent the morning searching the scene.
Police tweeted that the death is being “treated as unexplained”, rather than being immediately linked to the floods. An identification process will now take place with enquiries ongoing. The police added that HM Coroner has been informed.
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