Major incident declared in South Wales as Storm Bert takes its toll

A major incident has been declared in South Wales after dozens of homes, businesses and a number of schools were affected by flooding during Storm Bert.

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, South Wales Fire and Rescue, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and South Wales Police have declared a major incident for the borough.

Meanwhile, a body has been found in the search for 75-year-old Brian Perry after he went missing in the River Conwy on Saturday, North Wales Police said.

Between 200 and 300 properties in the area have been affected by flooding, councillor Andrew Morgan, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, told a press conference on Sunday.

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council said “significant” flooding has taken place with the “impact looking to be more significant than the severe impact experienced during Storm Dennis” in 2020.

Rest centres for impacted residents have been set up at Pontypridd Library, Ystrad Sports Centre, Sobell Leisure Centre and Cynon Valley Indoor Bowls Centre.

Mr Morgan said the weather was worse than forecast and he was “amazed that it was only a yellow weather warning issued”.

Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan said it has been “a really difficult weekend” and it is “absolutely devastating” for those affected by flooding.

Speaking to broadcasters, Baroness Morgan said: “I think this is the second time that many of those have suffered as a result of the storm.

“There’s been huge investments since the last storm hit, so we’ve managed to protect lots more properties than last time.

“But obviously this is absolutely devastating just before Christmas for those people who have been impacted.”

Asked if there will be emergency funding available to help people, she said discussions have already started, adding “and of course, we will do everything we need to do to put measures in place to support people who’ve undergone this really, really difficult situation”.

Baroness Morgan added that they have put “hundreds of millions of pounds” into flood defences over the past few years, which is helping to protect about 250,000 homes, but “clearly, climate change is going to impact on us, and there will come a point when it will be too difficult for us to protect every home in the country”.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said it will be “vital that people continue to take extra care over the coming days and follow official advice”.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said in a post on X that he has spoken to Baroness Morgan about the flooding in Wales and added that he is receiving updates on Storm Bert as it develops across the UK.

A Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council spokesperson said council assets have been damaged, with Lido Ponty, Park and Dare Theatre and a number of schools impacted.

They added: “There are a number of highways closures, with a landslip on the Bwlch Mountain Road at Nantymoel closing this road, and South Wales Police closing bridges in Pontypridd.

“The advice to everyone is only travel if absolutely necessary.”

The Abercynon Feeder Pipe Footbridge over the River Taff in South Wales, which was being rebuilt after being substantially damaged during Storm Dennis in 2020, was completely washed away during floods on Saturday night, Mr Morgan said.

It comes as record river levels were recorded on the Taff on Saturday night.

Sir Chris Bryant, MP for Rhondda and Ogmore, said there are about 10 different areas in his constituency affected by flooding and a fundraising page has been set up to help those in need.

He added that the Rheola pub has been flooded for about the third time in five years and this time it was “like a river running through the middle of it”.

Meanwhile, firefighters have been pumping water out of Sion Street in Pontypridd, where several homes have been flooded for the second time in four years.

Paula Williams, whose house on Sion Street flooded, said: “We only knew something was happening because we had a neighbour knocking us. She was shouting ‘get the cars moved’.

“We managed to get the dog out down my parents’ so we didn’t have to worry about her and then it was all hands to the pump.”

Ms Williams blamed NRW for not listening to them the last time there was flooding.

She said: “This time there’s only about four inches of water come in but it’s in exactly the same place that we told NRW about last time, and they didn’t do anything about it.

“They’ve tried to convince everybody that the flood defences worked. I have got videos proving the flood defences don’t work.”

Ms Williams said the water was not coming over their walls and barriers, but up from underneath, forcing its way through their floorboards.

She added: “We had one flood alert yesterday morning at 10 o’clock, which is just the general keep an eye out alert.

“We had the actual flood warning, which is the risk to flooding properties, at about 7.40am this morning but the river had already flooded, it was too late by then.”

Ms Williams said it was the work of their neighbours and them fighting to protect the homes that stopped the flooding being as bad as in 2020.

Rania Koutsikou, 32, a part-time lecturer and PhD student at the University of South Wales, said: “We moved our car, moved some of our stuff and our dog upstairs, and we went to our neighbours who offered us help.

“We’re just trying to save what we can.

“Nobody (official) took any action yesterday, like brought us sandbags or anything.

“People are very keen to help, as you can see, everyone is around, offering coffee, offering cookies, fire service are here now.”

Nick Bettinson, duty tactical manager for NRW, said river levels were rising very quickly in the area due to “the intensity and duration of the rainfall on saturated ground in steep-sided valleys”, and a flood warning for the River Taff at Pontypridd was issued at 7.41am when the river reached “flood warning trigger level”.

He added that the response to the incident will be reviewed, as with every flood.

Mr Bettinson said NRW is working with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council to review the flood risk in many of the areas across the Taff catchment, to inform long-term flood risk management plans.

And he said NRW has worked with the local authority on individual property protection to hundreds of homes at higher risk.

Mr Bettinson added that NRW will continue to work with the local authority to plan for the future, as climate change increases flood risks, adding: “But we cannot stop all flooding.

“Adaptation to growing flood risk and learning to live better and recover more quickly from flooding will be absolutely key in the coming decades.”

Rising waters have been reported in other towns across the country, including Ebbw Vale and Aberdare, with landslides in North Wales.

Five adults and five children had to be rescued from a house in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, near Llangollen in North Wales, following a landslide on Saturday.

Roads have also seen massive disruption, with the M48 Severn Bridge between Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire closed in both directions due to strong winds.

National Highways has advised motorists to use the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.

Rail lines have also been affected, with the Conwy Valley line, which runs from Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog, and the Heart of Wales lines –  Swansea to Shropshire – set to be closed for the rest of Sunday.