At least 1,300 people have been evacuated following severe flooding across Greater Manchester on New Year’s Day. A major incident was declared after heavy rainfall caused havoc on Wednesday (January 1).
Roads became submerged as car parks and shops were flooded. Homes and hotels were evacuated with residents left unable to return to their homes across the region amid the major emergency responses in the worst-hit areas of Didsbury, Trafford, Stockport and Wigan.
Hundreds of people have been rescued by emergency services on boats. Electricity North West estimated around 2,800 properties are currently experiencing power outages across the north west – with a ‘vast majority’ of these in Greater Manchester.
Palatine Road was flooded as over 900 people were evacuated in Didsbury
(Image: JMG Press)
The incidents, led by Greater Manchester Police, saw 400 people evacuated from apartments in Stockport, at least 500 rescued from a migrant hotel in south Manchester and 400 others saved in the Didsbury area.
Police, alongside paramedics, the fire service, mountain rescue teams, local councils and TfGM coordinated multi-agency responses to the severe flooding across the region. Police later confirmed that no serious injuries were reported.
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A major incident was declared by emergency services on Wednesday morning. Police said that Bolton, Didsbury, Harpurhey, Stalybridge, Stockport and Wigan were the areas which had seen the greatest impact. Trafford begun experiencing issues later in the day in the area of Bowden due to an aqueduct bursting
In Didsbury, the River Mersey partially burst its banks. 400 private homes were evacuated, with around 500 rescued from the Britannia Country Park Hotel, which houses asylum seekers.
Boats saved people from a hotel and flats in south Manchester
(Image: JMG Press)
Videos and pictures taken from the south Manchester suburb on Wednesday night showed a huge emergency response, including fire crews, water rescue units, incident response teams, police and paramedics and mountain rescue teams all in attendance amid the major rescue mission.
Pictures from flooded Palatine Road on Wednesday showed fire crews rescuing people on boats. Residents told the M.E.N how people became ‘trapped’ in their homes with young children as homes and the hotel experienced power cuts.
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Also in Didsbury, pictures showed Fletcher Moss Gardens submerged with cars seen completely covered by the flood water.
Flooding on Stenner Lane in Didsbury
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
In Stockport, cars were almost completely covered as flood water struck the Meadow Mill complex. Around 400 people were rescued after water began climbing up from the ground floor of the building.
The car park and ground floor at Meadow Mill building became completely submerged following the biblical rainfall on New Year’s Eve.
Cars outside Meadow Mill in Stockport
(Image: submitted)
The drama started shortly after the New Year when some residents were awoken by water coming through their ceiling. The River Tame burst its banks.
Councillor Christine Carrigan said that electricity and water had been cut off and that residents were being evacuated. An emergency refuge centre was set up at the Houldsworth Village Life Leisure centre in Reddish and also nearby Houldsworth Mill.
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In Trafford, there was fears of further flooding on Wednesday night. Intelligence suggested the area of Bowden, on the border with Cheshire, could be hit due to an aqueduct bursting.
And in parts of Wigan, localised flooding led to a council refuge centre being set up at Robin Park. An Iceland and Home Bargains store in Platt Bridge was completely flooded, with nearby streets also submerged.
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Residents were seen being transported to safety on boats in social media footage as water was seen climbing up houses. Others were seen wading on foot through flooded streets. Numerous roads were also closed.
The Iceland and Home Bargains in Platt Bridge
(Image: Ryan Jenkinson | Manchester Evening News)
GMP said on Wednesday night that due to weather easing, Bolton, Harpurhey and Stalybridge were ‘no longer areas of serious concern’.
The force added: “In addition to working directly with the Environment Agency and Highways England, due to the declaring of a major incident, and reports being received around damage, risk to life and stranded vehicles.
“The response is still significant whilst we continue to determine who needs to be displaced from their homes as a last resort for purely safety reasons whilst we collectively monitor.”
Platt Bridge in Wigan became badly flooded
(Image: Ryan Jenkinson | Manchester Evening News)
GMP’s Chief Superintendent Colette Rose said: “We are continuing to monitor the whole of Greater Manchester as we look to co-ordinate the emergency response involving a variety of services.
“Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have been key to this to ensure we can keep those people and communities safe after the severe weather we have had.
“Thankfully, due to the efforts of all involved so far no one has been seriously injured or come to harm and would like to thank members of the public for their continued co-operation especially around the road closures in place and looking out for each other.
“Anyone still affected should continue to check the relevant detail being shared by their local council, the fire service and Transport for Greater Manchester to ensure they can get the support available that may be needed.”