Firefighters are urging people across Greater Manchester to stay informed and stay safe after 18 flood alerts have been issued for the region by the Flood Warning Information Service.
Crew are currently responding to incidents in Wigan, Bolton, Bury, Salford and Ramsbottom and conditions are expected to deteriorate throughout the day.
Eleven parts of Greater Manchester have been issued with a warning, which means flooding is expected and action needs to be taken they are:
• River Irwell at Pioneer Mills and Parkside Close
• River Roch at Littleborough
• River Irwell at Bury Ground
• River Irwell at Prestolee and Ringley Bridges
• Hey Brook at Rochdale, properties adjacent to the watercourse
• Borsdane and Hockery Brook at Hindley
• River Irwell at Summerseat, Riverside
• River Irwell at Irwell Vale
• Walsden Water at Walsden and Todmorden
• River Spodden at Whitworth, Daniel Street
• River Irwell at Strongstry and Chatterton
A further seven parts of Greater Manchester have been issued with a warning, which means flooding is possible and people should be prepared they are:
• River Calder Upper Catchment
• Lower River Ribble and Darwen
• Lostock and Yarrow Catchment
• River Colne, Holme and Fenay Beck
• River Glaze catchment including Leigh and East Wigan
• Lower River Irwell catchment including areas in Greater Manchester
• Upper River Irwell catchment with Oldham, Bolton, Rochdale, Haslingden, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall.
Chair of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority, Councillor David Acton, said: “Are thoughts are with those who have been affected by flooding today – we are working tirelessly across the North West to protect life and property.
“If you live in an affected area please do not travel and if you home has been flooded stay out of the water and wait for help.
“Flood water is extremely dangerous, it is dirty, can be fast flowing and often full of debris – the only way to stay safe is to stay out of the water.
“If you’re driving, see water on the road and don’t know how deep it is don’t drive through it – it only takes 30 cm of water to float a car and even less to write your vehicle off.
“Our control operators are experiencing a high number of calls at the moment, so please only call 999 if it is a genuine emergency.”
For more information about flooding in your area please visit https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/ or call the 24 hour Floodline on 0345 988 1188.
