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RAF: Biggest peacetime rescue
22/07/2007 16:04 - (SA)
London - The Royal Air Force says it is carrying out probably its biggest peacetime rescue operation in Britain as its helicopters helped evacuate more than 100 people from flood-hit areas.
The RAF's announcement highlighted the scale of the flooding in central and western England that caused a third day of chaos for motorists and rail passengers and forced hundreds of people to spend another night in shelters.
RAF Flight Lieutenant Rhona Metcalfe said since exceptionally heavy rains triggered flash floods on Friday, RAF helicopters had flown 55 sorties to rescue stranded people and bring doctors and medical supplies to people who need them.
Aided by a Coast Guard helicopter, several RAF helicopters had plucked to safety more than 100 people since Friday, she said.
Though less intense, more rain has fallen during the weekend. The worst flood-hit areas are Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Oxfordshire, counties that lie north and west of London.
In Gloucestershire, about 2 000 people spent Friday night in emergency shelters after being forced from their cars or homes.
About 100 people spent a second night in temporary accommodation across the county, but were expected to return home late on Sunday, a spokesperson for Gloucestershire County Council said.
And in neighbouring Worcestershire, more than 1 000 people spent Saturday night in temporary accommodation.
A spokesperson for Virgin Trains said two routes were blocked on Sunday due to flooding in Cheltenham, Gloucester and Banbury.
Train connections from Birmingham, Britain's second largest city, to the English West Country and the southern coast were cut, he said.
The rail company First Great Western warned that the line from Oxford to Worcester and Hereford was expected to be closed for at least a week with no alternative road transport available.
The Highways Agency said that only one of its main roads, the A49, remained closed because of flooding: two full sections were closed in both directions, one near Leominster and one near Hereford.
- AFP
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