A party boat capsizes in the Thames amidst extensive flooding during Storm Henk, while a canal in East London overflows its banks

 

The Bar & Co boat, docked at Temple Pier, is believed to have sunk due to adverse weather conditions, according to a spokesperson. All individuals aboard have been confirmed safe.

In east London, several evacuations occurred from buildings following a canal breach in Hackney Wick. Around 70 firefighters and ten fire engines were present at the scene on Thursday evening.

Additionally, Canada Water Tube station in the southeast of the capital experienced flooding, as witnessed by onlookers.

This incident coincides with Storm Henk’s ongoing impact across much of southern England, causing extensive rainfall, floods, and disruptions in travel. Tragically, two fatalities have been reported due to the storm.

Areas including Nottinghamshire, Worcestershire, the West Midlands, Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, and West Sussex have all been affected by flooding.

Otterbourne in Hampshire experienced the highest rainfall on Thursday, recording 35.2mm, while much of southern England saw between 20mm to 30mm across the region.

Persistent heavy rain over several days has left the ground saturated, heightening the risk of flooding.

Although the Met Office’s yellow weather warning lapsed at 3am on Friday, experts anticipate that the effects of the heavy rainfall will persist for several days.

Nottinghamshire has encountered flooding, prompting emergency services in the county to declare a major incident. The county council has expressed concerns about parts of the River Trent reaching unprecedented levels.

In Nottinghamshire, a number of individuals have been rescued due to rising water levels. A gentleman, stranded atop his shed by the flooding, was assisted by a fire crew using a small boat.

Additionally, residents in the Radcliffe Residential static caravan park, near Nottingham, have required evacuation for their safety.

Laurie Walker, the chairman of the Radcliffe Park Residents’ Association, expressed concern, stating, “Exiting the park meant traversing someone else’s garden to bypass the flooded road. In my seven years here, this is the worst I’ve witnessed. It’s chaotic.”

Residents in other areas prone to flooding have been cautioned to prepare for potential evacuation from their homes.

Nottinghamshire County Council has issued a warning, stating that various vital streams contributing to the River Trent, such as the River Derwent, River Soar, and River Dove, have already reached their peak levels. Consequently, elevated water levels are expected along the Trent, potentially resulting in flooding of properties and roads.

Residents residing in flood-prone areas are urged to ensure they have necessary preparations in place for potential evacuation orders. The Council, along with emergency services and the Environment Agency, has been actively providing essential aid to affected communities and pledges ongoing support across the county.

Moving to Shropshire, distressing scenes unfolded as floodwaters inundated the Boat Inn in Jackfield, leaving pub owner Mario Thomas in tears, describing the deluge as “evil”.

The inclement weather persists, causing significant disruption to rail travel. Great Western Railway and South Western Railway have cautioned passengers to anticipate continued travel disturbances into Friday’s morning rush hour due to flooded tracks and landslides.

An unidentified elderly female driver tragically passed away following a collision with a fallen tree, previously reported to authorities about 90 minutes prior. The 87-year-old was driving a red Smart Forfour when the accident occurred near Crays Pond in Oxfordshire around 5:25 pm on Tuesday.

Thames Valley Police has taken the step to refer itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to the fallen tree being among several similar reports received approximately an hour and a half before the collision.

The deceased woman’s next of kin have been informed and are receiving support from specially trained officers. No arrests have been made at this time.

Sergeant Dominic Mahon, from the serious collision investigation unit, expressed, “Regrettably, a woman has passed away as a result of this collision, and our condolences go out to her family and friends.

“We urge anyone who witnessed the incident or observed the vehicle before it occurred to get in touch with us.”

‼️THREAD | Major incident declared due to flooding along the River Trent

Nottinghamshire and Nottingham Local Resilience Forum has declared a major incident due to rising river levels on the River Trent and the flooding and future flooding in the area, caused by #StormHenk. 👇 pic.twitter.com/yjof4W0V8C

— Nottinghamshire County Council (@NottsCC) January 4, 2024

“We kindly request any motorists with dash-cams who were in the vicinity at the time to review their footage and inform us if it contains any information pertinent to our inquiry.”

A representative from the IOPC stated, “As per the report submitted, officers had previously alerted about a tree causing power lines to fall at the exact spot.

“We will be examining the report to ascertain if there’s a need for additional steps on our part.”