A large sink hole has appeared in the back garden of a woman’s home in Wales after Storm Darragh – and the exact same thing happened at the property 15 years ago
A massive sinkhole has opened up in the back garden of a woman’s home in Wales during Storm Darragh.
The ground gave way at sloping farmland behind homes at the Heathlands estate, Gilfach Goch, Rhondda Cynon Taf, resulting in a significant hole in the garden. The affected homeowner was accommodated in a bed and breakfast overnight by the Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, while council workers were on site on Saturday afternoon pumping water out of the hole. Neighbours recalled that a similar incident occurred at the property during a comparable weather event 15 years ago.
Photos from the scene on Saturday revealed the hole just yards away from the house. This comes just days after a sinkhole appeared in Merthyr Tydfil following the collapse of a culvert due to heavy rainfall.
Thousands of homes in Rhondda Cynon Taf also experienced power outages on Saturday. Locals reported being informed that they wouldn’t have power until 11pm, while others said it was scheduled to return in the early hours of the morning, reports WalesOnline.
Meanwhile, Storm Darragh has had “very significant effects in many parts of Wales, including on transport, energy infrastructure and property”, the Welsh First Minister and her deputy have said.
A joint statement from Eluned Morgan and Huw Irranca-Davies added: “On behalf of everyone, we wish to thank the emergency services and first responders who have been out through the night in dreadful conditions to keep people safe.
“Our thanks also to people throughout Wales who heeded the very serious red warning and emergency alert that was issued. Your actions truly helped the emergency response, and we are grateful.
“Work is ongoing to restore power to homes and reopen parts of the transport network, and our thoughts are with people who have suffered damage to their property and possessions from the storm.
“Many warnings and alerts remain in place, in particular around rivers, and people should be vigilant as the effects of Storm Darragh may be felt for some days yet.”
A man died during Storm Darragh earlier today, after a tree fell onto his van in Lancashire. The man, in his 40s, was driving his Citroen vehicle on the A59 at Longton, near Preston, at about 9am on Saturday.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. Detective Sgt Matt Davidson, from Lancashire Police’s serious collision investigation unit, said: “Very sadly this incident has resulted in the death of a man and our thoughts are with his loved ones at this time. An investigation is ongoing, and I would appeal to anyone who saw what happened or has any dashcam or mobile phone footage to please get in touch.”
