West Midlands chaos as water floods hundreds of homes
Flash flooding has hit parts of the West Midlands, causing homes, businesses, cars and roads to become submerged under water.
On Thursday, the chaotic deluge started at around 6pm. Over 1,000 flood-related calls inundated West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS).
It has been reported that 1,000 homes in Birmingham either flooded or were at risk of flooding.
South Birmingham and the Dudley region appeared to be the worse affected.
The radiotherapy section of the former Queen Elizabeth Hospital also had to be cleared of an incredible 5,000 litres of water.
It is the latest bout of flash flooding to hit the region in the last few days, with Birmingham’s Heartlands Hospital declaring a major incident when its accident and emergency department was hit.
WMFS Area Commander Ben Brook praised the response of our Fire Control staff and that of firefighters who tirelessly responded to incidents in spite of challenging and sodden conditions.
“Although we believe that the worst of the weather has now passed, we are still asking people to be vigilant and to beware of the likelihood of intense rain with little notice.
“There is also likely to be a lot of standing water on roads, and we would remind people not to enter floor water either in vehicles or on foot. There will also be debris and waste on some roads, so drivers should be alert.
“In spite of the horrendous spate conditions, we believe that no-one was seriously hurt and would like to thank people for their patience and support throughout.”
Britain has been battered by heavy rainfall this week, with some parts lashed with as much as 40mm of rain. There are warnings of more wet weather on its way.
Thunderstorms and lightning hit England and Wales, while heavy showers have also affected north-eastern parts of Scotland.
