Around 150 people had to be rescued from homes and caravans today after severe floods hit Mid Wales.
Holidaymakers and residents were helped to safety in a large-scale rescue operation mounted by fire crews, coastguard lifeboats and military helicopters when water swept through caravan parks and villages near Aberystwyth.
An inshore lifeboat team taking part in the rescue operation had to be airlifted when they got into difficulties after helping to pluck a disabled man from a flooded caravan because a Royal Air Force (RAF) helicopter was 20 minutes flying time away.
Four holiday camps along the River Lery were completely evacuated when the swollen waters breached its banks, and 150 people were sheltering in rest centres having been rescued, police said.
Dozens of people took refuge in a community centre in Talybont when flood water surged through the village and three people were winched away from the Riverside Caravan Park in Llandre by RAF Sea King helicopters.
Dyfed-Powys Police said three people needed treatment for minor injuries.
The emergency services released astonishing video clips from RAF Sea King helicopters who have helped more than 150 from the villages and caravan parks around Aberystwyth.
You can see more WalesOnline video clips and photographs here.
People in the village of Talybont have had to be rescued from their homes while two caravan parks - the Riverside Caravan Park in Llandre and Mill House Caravan Park at Dol-y-Bont - are surrounded by water.
The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said there was a “large amount of water and a heavy current running through the caravan park.”
Three people are believed to have been taken to safety by helicopter while Ceredigion council said 35 people had been rescued.
The volunteer crew of Borth inshore lifeboat said they launched onto the River Lery at 4.30am to rescue a disabled man in a flooded caravan.
The man was rescued by the Coastguard and the crew continued to stand by while people were evacuated from the site by helicopter and road.
Those rescued were taken to Borth lifeboat station where they were given blankets and tea and assessed by paramedics.
The charity’s Flood Rescue Team was also deployed at 6.15am and was expected to arrive at the scene at around 10am.
Pat Edwards, whose partner runs Mill House Caravan Park, told the BBC they had not seen flooding like it in 50 years.
She said: “The helicopter has come over and offered to rescue us. At the moment we've got three families here. One is staying in their caravan and two couples are upstairs with us.
“We’ve got an escape route planned if necessary, if we need to we can climb up the bank and get picked up by the helicopter.”
Forecasters said the town had seen four inches of rain overnight. They said the wet weather was set to ease throughout the day but river levels would remain high.
Talybont resident Sam Ebenzer said the community was coming together to help with the rescue effort.
Mr Ebenzer, who has invited people to stay in his house which is on higher ground, said: “We are just staying warm and trying to dry off. The amount of water is just amazing. It’s coming from high ground and flowing down the two rivers and coming through the village.
“There are just incredible scenes and it’s quite upsetting seeing the houses full of water about hip height. It’s just devastating really. There must be about five feet coming out the houses and the windows. It hit the local pub and all the water came through like a river, seeing all the bins and fridges coming out there was horrible.
Everyone has been coming together great. People like us have invited people over to keep them warm and give them food. It’s a great community to be part of, even through the bad parts like this. My house is dry and there’s a lot of people here because we are on high ground. Everyone’s just devastated and amazed with the amount of water flowing through.
“Luckily we have got plenty of supplies and the village shop has not been affected. I have never seen the river as high as it has been and the older residents are saying the same.”
The flooding comes as storms carrying gale-force winds and heavy rain swept across Wales yesterday, creating massive coastal surges and hazardous conditions.
The inclement weather – said to have brought with it gusts measuring more than 70mph and rainfall topping 80mm – caused chaos and meant many scheduled events for the weekend have been cancelled.
Yesterday in Cardiff Bay the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup’s first day was wrecked, with competition postponed until today because of the choppy waters, and a WRU skills day at Nantyglo, Blaenau Gwent, was also cancelled.
Read more: See Wales battered by 74mph winds
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