Residents have been urged to get to high ground and evacuate as flooding sparked rescue operations in West Sussex.
Over 100 people were evacuated from Medmerrt holiday park between Bracklesham and Selsey in West Sussex overnight as hundreds of flood warnings are in place across the country.
Emergency services urged residents to “get to high ground” in the nearby seaside town of Littlehampton which is dealing with severe flooding after the River Arun burst its banks.
A number of people were triaged at a nearby facility with one person being rushed to hospital after showing signs of hypothermia.
The fire and rescue service said: “Residents should remain in their properties if it is safe to do so and get as high as possible within their homes. Please avoid the area and remain in your homes where possible to allow our crews to work safely.”
It comes as large swathes of the country are on high alert with 106 flood warnings and 210 lesser flood alerts issued by the Environment Agency in England.
Hundreds of flood warnings in place
As severe flooding sparks a rescue operation in West Sussex, large swathes of the UK are also on high alert as hundreds of flood warnings are in place.
The Environment Agency had 213 flood alerts and 100 flood warnings in place in England on Monday evening. National Resources Wales has issued 13 flood warnings and 22 alerts.
Athena Stavrou9 April 2024 10:37
Resident in ‘disbelief’ after watching road become engulfed by floodwater
A resident of Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex said flooding in the town was “scary and unprecedented”, after he stayed awake until the early hours putting flood defences around his property.
Gareth Theobald, 36, told the PA news agency: “I was out the front of the building and watching the water just get higher and higher and higher, and then helping or stopping traffic going into the floodwaters and then just watching in disbelief as the whole of Brighton Road and our multimillion-pound development was being engulfed by floodwaters.”
The industrial relations officer added: “The amount of water is scary and unprecedented and those houses opposite our development are lower-ground flats and they were all flooded under a foot or so of water.”
He said he saw cars “driving into the floods at speed as well and getting stuck” and that “residents in the streets (were) trying to do what they can”.
Athena Stavrou9 April 2024 10:26
Pictures: Severe flooding in West Sussex
Athena Stavrou9 April 2024 10:25
Fire and Rescue service launches rescue operation
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has launched a rescue operation as they warn residents to get “as high as possible” amid severe flooding.
Our crews are supporting rescue operations in Littlehampton near Ferry Road and Rope Walk where the River Arun has burst its banks leading to severe flooding,” they wrote on X.
“Residents should remain in their properties if it is safe to do so and get as high as possible within their homes”
Athena Stavrou9 April 2024 10:08
