Evacuations and rescues as region hit by torrential rain

A MAJOR incident was declared after a retirement housing complex flooded forcing residents to evacuate during downpours across Wales on Tuesday night.

- TAITE JOHNSON and ELLIE GOSLEY

Flooding at Llandello yesterday

Large parts of Carmarthenshire were hit particularly hard by flooding. One of the most badly affected areas is Whitland, where emergency services were called to reports of dozens of residents trapped at a retirement complex on St David's Avenue.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) declared a major incident when multiple crews were called to the scene at 1.35am.

A total of 48 people were rescued using rescue sleds and water rescue equipment.

All residents were accounted for and were sheltered at Whitland Town Hall.

MAWWFRS said its crews were kept "exceptionally busy" and its control room processed more than 450 calls within a 12-hour period.

The fire service also rescued a number of people trapped in cars. Shortly after 5pm on Tuesday evening, crews were called to three casualties and two dogs who were stuck in a vehicle situated in fast-flowing water at Ffarmers.

A spokesman said: “This complex rescue operation required crews to use triple-extension ladders to gain access to the vehicle and to rescue the vehicle's occupants.”