Emergency teams working in Derbyshire are attempting prevent the Whaley Bridge dam at Toddbrook Reservoir from bursting amid Met Office weather warnings of thunderstorms and possible flooding. More than 6,500 people were evacuated this week in a bid to prevent the loss of lives if the 1.3 million tonne reservoir from collapsing, engulfing surrounding towns and neighbourhoods. Firefighters and other rescue teams working in the area have now reduced the water level by around half a metre, but the situation remains “critical”. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson travelled to Derbyshire on Friday and promised to initiate a “major rebuild” of the damaged 180-year-old structure.

While authorities rush to prevent the dam from bursting, the Met Office has warned of thunderstorms and possible flooding in the area.

The weather forecaster has issued its lowest yellow warning for much of northern England and the Midlands on Sunday, saying there could be damage and disruption from floodwater and lightning strikes.

The rain and storms could potentially disrupt progress in the race to stop the Whaley Bridge dam from bursting.

The Met Office has warned that there is risk of scattered heavy showers and thunderstorms may cause some transport disruption and flooding on Sunday.

The forecaster added that there is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater and lightning strikes and a small chance of fast flowing or deep flood water causing danger to life.

Furthermore, the Met Office said that where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services and there is also a small chance that some communities become cut off by flooded roads.

The yellow warning issued by the Met Office today is in effect from midday on Sunday until 10pm and affects most of the country north of Stoke-on-Trent.

During his visit on Friday, the new PM described it as “dodgy but stable” and a “substantial risk”.

He added that if the dam were to collapse, devastation could have an impact on “the whole of the village below, on livelihoods, on families, on homes”.

Residents evacuated from the area were briefly permitted to return to their homes on Friday to collect pets and medicines but otherwise have been told to “stay away from Whaley Bridge”.

The controlled operation enabled one resident per household back into their homes for 15 minutes to collect vital belongings.

The decision to allow people back to their homes was said to be difficult but people had complained about being forced to evacuate in such a hurry that crucial belongings had been missed.

But the risk of collapse remains at a “critical level”.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited on Friday and promised a “major rebuild” of the dam.

Some 1,500 residents of Whaley Bridge were evacuated after part of the reservoir’s spillway broke away on Thursday following heavy rain.

Police, the Environment Agency, and the Canal and River Trust, which owns the reservoir, have all said there is a “real risk” the dam could collapse and flood the town.

According to the Canal and River Trust, the water level needs to drop by several more metres and to enable this as quickly as possible more high-volume water pumps are being brought in.

Additionally, contractors are laying concrete between bags of ballast placed on the dam wall.

An RAF Chinook helicopter has dropped 400 tonnes of sandbags on the damaged part of the dam in an attempt to shore it up.

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