Mud slide near Abertillery due to storm Bert

[teqniq]

I put this in the UK climate news thread but no-one seems to look at it much so I'm reposting it here.

The seriously heavy rainfall from storm Bert led to a mudslide from an old coal tip near Abertillerey:

Abertillery: Collapsed coal tip led to 'frightening' landslip

The landslip was due to a "singular wash-out of a former coal tip", the Welsh government says.

www.bbc.com

View attachment 452387-a5955b0dff25cbca066feb5b22076324.mp4

In an update I've seen today a firm specializing in dealing with issues like this have offered help in the cleanup and making it safe:

Coal tip remediation specialists offer help with Cwmtillery clean up

Emily Price A coal tip remediation specialist has offered to make a dangerous disused site safe after Storm Bert caused a frightening landslide at the weekend. Dozens of people in Cwmtillery were forced from their homes on Sunday night as slurry, rocks and water came up to their windows...

nation.cymru

 

[Callie]

I would guess we don't have huge teams with expertise in dealing with that kind of thing. How sad, hope noone was hurt!

 

[brogdale]

Absolutely terrifying for those old enough to remember 21/10/1966 and those younger who've been brought up with the tales of that frightful day.

 

[keybored]

Just 5 minutes walk from there is Cwmtillery lake, the river Tillery flows into it and leaves at the other end in an underground stream which then exits about a mile away in Abertillery.

On Saturday a huge sinkhole appeared outside the community cafe, directly above the route of the underground stream. The lake water levels started rising and it broke its banks. Contractors turned up with a digger on Sunday afternoon, started excavating the sinkhole and managed to unblock the stream by the evening, otherwise the lake would have totally spilled over into the town.


The hole.

 

[keybored]

This video is the river flowing into the lake on Sunday morning, the footbridge is submerged and you can see the top of a green picnic bench is now at water level. Fair play, the bridge is still there. Well-built.


View attachment Bridge.mp4

The water rose much higher by the evening. My partner saw a man just walk in the lake and sit on one of the benches with his head just above the water. "Is he ok?" she asked another woman who was filming him. "Yes, that's my boyfriend. I made him do it for a dare".



Digger to the rescue.

 

[Silas Loom]

Sorry, the digger is filling in a hasty grave for the cruel woman’s boyfriend?

 

[keybored]

Sorry, the digger is filling in a hasty grave for the cruel woman’s boyfriend?

No rush, leptospirosis takes its time.

 

[xenon]

I would guess we don't have huge teams with expertise in dealing with that kind of thing. How sad, hope noone was hurt!

I hope Emily doesn't have to do it all by herself.

Pretty scary for the residents there. Hope it's made safe long term.