June to many is recognised as one of the hottest months of the year and the start of summer, but June 2007 is already the wettest June since records began and the effects of the recent heavy rainfall have been seen across all parts of the UK.
However, Sheffield has been particularly badly affected by the torrential rainfall, as shefbase reporter Andrew Burgess reports.
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A 14-year old boy and a 68-year-old man have been swept to their deaths by floodwater, while parts of the city were left without electricity.
Thirteen schools have been closed and road and rail transport were severe disrupted. Many officials are estimating there has been “significant damage” to the city, and as of Monday afternoon, (25th) 900 people have been evacuated to emergency shelters.
On Sunday, RAF helicopters flew in to help with the rescue operation to help evacuate locals from there homes. About 20 people were airlifted from the roof of a building in Sheffield’s Lower Don Valley, while emergency services evacuated 200 people from another area of the city.
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was dealing with more than 70 flood related incidents late on Monday night - hours after the main downpours had brought chaos to the city. Chief Fire Officer Mark Smitherman has even been quoted as saying: “These are unprecedented levels of flooding. We were dealing with a call every 30 seconds.”
Sheffield City Council have issued a plea to all those intending to travel into the city to avoid doing so “unless absolutely necessary”, as well as asking those still in the city to conserve electricity to prevent the further risk of electrical surges.
Update (26th June 18.00): With flood waters starting to dissipate, the City Council are advising those that had to abandon their vehicles on Monday 25 June, due to unprecedented levels of flooding, to return to them and remove them so to aid the clean up operation.
Have your say: Have you been affected by the flooding in Sheffield and South Yorkshire? Tell us your story by clicking here.
In Pictures: Sheffield Underwater
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| Hillsborough, the home of Sheffield Wednesday FC was more like a venue for water polo on Sunday (Photo: PA) |
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| Abandoned cars and depris line Brightside Lane (Photo: Getty) |
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| Fish have also felt the impact, Brightside Lane (Photo: Getty) |
