A view of a children’s playground immersed in floodwater, around Tewkesbury Abbey, where flood clocks are in place with more rain expected in the coming days, in Tewkesbury, England, Wednesday, December 23, 2020. (Ben Birchall / PA via AP)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 11:10 am PT – Sunday, December 27, 2020
Hundreds of Bedfordshire residents evacuated their homes after a major flood caused by ‘Storm Bella’.
According to reports this weekend, river levels are ‘extremely high’, with flood warnings in the region along the ‘Great River Ouse’, which is about 65 miles north of London.
Residents woke up to find parks, roads and, in some cases – their homes – submerged by the heavy rains of ‘Tempest Bella’. The flood reached a meter and a half deep in some places.
Earlier today @bedsFire where they are supporting Harrold residents to leave their homes due to the floods. For the latest bedfordshire flood information, check; https://t.co/D4abd1tHlo pic.twitter.com/dOV9cZRn0g
– Fire and Rescue Beds (@BedsFire) December 25, 2020
“I don’t think I’ve seen it in over 20 years, I would say,” said a local resident. “It’s incredibly fast too, so you wouldn’t want to fall, I don’t think.”
Firefighters on boats spent Christmas Day rescuing residents. They saved dozens of people from their homes, businesses and stuck cars. Emergency accommodations were provided for approximately 500 people, some of whom even showed signs of hypothermia.
“It wasn’t exactly the best year,” said another resident. “And it’s just one more thing to add to 2020 things that are not good.”
The UK Environmental Agency has warned that “flooding is imminent” as ‘Storm Bella’ is expected to continue to hit the UK over the weekend.
Meanwhile, the region is also subject to restrictions on “Level Four” coronavirus, which prohibit families from mixing. However, officials said the flood warnings lifted current restrictions on the coronavirus. The authorities also noted that people are allowed to go to other homes to be safe.
Residents are strongly encouraged to turn off water, gas and electricity before evacuating to avoid further problems.