People ‘trapped in their flats’ before being rescued are unable to return home after severe flooding hit south Manchester on New Year’s Day.
Palatine Road and surrounding streets in Didsbury became submerged after relentless rainfall on December 31. ‘Hundreds’ of people were to be rescued as a nearby Britannia hotel, which is housing asylum seekers, was evacuated along with nearby homes.
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.
People were seen being transported on rubber boats along Palatine Road to safety. A witness said the Britannia Country Park Hotel suffered a power cut and had started to flood, prompting the mass evacuation.
Boats were seen rescuing people in Didsbury
(Image: JMG Press)
A major incident was declared by emergency services on Wednesday (January 1). Police said that Bolton, Didsbury, Harpurhey, Stalybridge, Stockport and Wigan were the areas which had seen the greatest impact.
Sarah Baram, 40, lives in a top floor apartment nearby with her son and pet dog. Her block was evacuated and she was forced to find alternative living arrangements with family.
She told the M.E.N of the scary moment water began to rise in her block car park and said a woman with two young children was trapped in her flat.
Palatine Road in south Manchester became completely submerged
(Image: JMG Press)
Holding her son in the rain on Palatine Road, she told the M.E.N: “At 7.30 this morning we came out and everything was fine. At 9 o’clock I came down in the lift, opened the doors to the car park and all of the water started pouring into the lift.
“We came outside through the stairs and the water level then, I’d say, was maybe only calf deep. We went to the garage to get the car and it was probably knee deep in the basement.
“We came back at 11 and the water level had risen half a metre or so. Now, we have been stuck, not expecting we wouldn’t be able to get back in. We’ve got no stuff. He [her son] doesn’t even have any trousers bless him.
“We’ve been stuck out really since 9am. We are a bit stuck as it will be a few days of not being able to get pack in. I’ve asked if there’s a way to get back in and get all our stuff so we can go to my mum and dad’s in Wales.
Boats were sent out to rescue people in Didsbury
(Image: JMG Press)
“They [emergency services] said they will be doing the rescue now for another maybe four hours because they still have hundreds of people to get out. After the hotel, there are a couple more apartments there.
“It was how fast the water rose that was the scary thing. Our neighbour, bless her, was stuck in there with two under-twos on her own with no water or electricity. It’s been awful.
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“At least we got the car out, because it is left in our car park that has completely flooded now. Luckily we got out and are safe, but we just have nothing.”
Lee Kibbel, 45, lives with his wife and two kids, aged 11 and seven, on Hayescroft Gardens just off Palatine Road. He said a stretch of the road was completely underwater. “It’s right up to the bottom of our garden but hasn’t come into our house. Thankfully we live at the top of the hill,” he said.
Fire crews and water rescue units were called to the scene
(Image: JMG Press)
“We had a bit of a late night and woke up to a load of text messages about 9am from people who’d been out and seen pictures. It’s completely underwater. They are evacuating people from the flats and Britannia Hotel now.
“I spoke to two lads who had to be evacuated by boat and have had to go and stay at their parents house. There have been floods before. We’ve been here nine years and this is the third time it’s happened, but this is definitely the worst.
“Our power went off about 1pm and we’ve been told it likely won’t be back on until 5pm tomorrow. We’ve had to take the kids to the pub to feed them. I’m suppose to be working tomorrow but I don’t know how that’ll work if we’ve got no WiFi.
“Friends and family have said we can go and stay with them for a bit. We’re just gonna decamp at home for a bit and see what happens.”
A major emergency response was called to the scene
(Image: JMG Press)
The number of people rescued has not been confirmed. A witness said they were informed the power at the hotel had been cut off due to the extent of the flooding and that other homes were being evacuated as an emergency, with ‘hundreds’ of people to be saved.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed a major incident had been declared. It said it was dealing with incidents in Bolton, Didsbury, Harpurhey, Stalybridge, Stockport and Wigan.
Chief Superintendent Colette Rose said: “Following events overnight a major incident has been declared. This is to ensure we can continue to keep people safe through a co-ordinated effort from our collective emergency services, supported by key partner agencies.
“Anyone affected should 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, which include any road closures and information centres for those displaced. It is advised to travel if it is only necessary and to take care if out and about.
“Our officers with the fire service are in the key locations and can be spoken to if you need anything urgently, as we understand the distress those affected will be faced with as we begin 2025. It will be a continued team effort as we monitor how the weather and water levels progress throughout today.”