Derbyshire flooding: Risk to life warnings as care home residents rescued

Severe flood warnings have been issued in Derbyshire after residents of a flooded care home were rescued by firefighters.

Three warnings, indicating a risk to life, have been announced around the River Derwent due to Storm Babet.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) said more than 100 people had to be rescued in the county on Friday.

Among those evacuated were 20 people at a care home in Duffield, while elsewhere cars were submerged in water.

The severe warnings are for Derby City Water Treatment Works, Little Chester, Eastgate, Cattle Market and Racecourse Park at Chaddesden.

The warnings indicate deep and fast flowing water carrying a significant risk of death or serious injury, as well as serious disruption to local communities.

Clive Stanbrook, area manager at DFRS, said 18 houses also had to be evacuated in Ironville as Storm Babet caused havoc in the region.

He told BBC Breakfast: "On one road in Chesterfield in the north of the county, we rescued 60 people when that [water level] became up to the top of cars and several HGVs were stuck as well.

"There is a village called Duffield in Derbyshire and we rescued 20 people from one care home there.

"Also there were 18 houses that were evacuated in a village called Ironville, again in the north of the county."

The Derwent, which runs through the middle of Derby city centre, has risen to a record level.

Water levels in the city are currently at a height of 3.57m - highest than the previous record of 3.35m.

The Environment Agency said: "We are closely monitoring the situation. Our incident response staff are patrolling watercourses in the area and liaising with emergency services and Derby City Council.

"Stay away from flood water and do not take unnecessary risks. Please follow the advice of the emergency services and first responders on the ground and on Derby City Council's website."

Mr Stanbrook said that emergency services had been working through the night to rescue people.

He added that West Midlands Fire Service had sent two boat crews to help rescue people trapped by the floods in Derbyshire.

The RSPCA has also volunteered a boat crew to help rescue animals.

Mr Stanbrook warned of the danger posed by travelling in flooded areas on Saturday.

"The advice we give is only travel if absolutely, absolutely necessary," he said.

"If flood waters recede, then that's absolutely great. But on the road there is still going to be silt, there is still going to be debris that is going to cause real danger to anybody travelling at the moment - no matter what size car or vehicle you're travelling in."

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