Emergency services have launched an urgent search for a man who is feared to have been swept away in Storm Bert while out walking his dog in the Trefriw area near the Afon Conwy. The man went missing on Saturday amidst dangerous weather conditions, with three individuals losing their lives in the storm across the UK that day. Several warnings are still in effect, with some regions experiencing high winds and heavy rainfall of up to 15cm. Numerous flood alerts have been issued as a result.
The Conwy Valley line and Heart of Wales lines have been shut down on Saturday and Sunday due to the severe weather conditions. The storm saw gusts of up to 82mph in Capel Curig, Conwy. Search efforts began at 4pm on Saturday, involving specialised water rescue teams from the fire service, police, ambulance services, HM Coastguard helicopter, and the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team. Despite facing extremely challenging conditions, the search had to be called off on Saturday night but is set to continue on Sunday.
Torrential rain over the past few days has led to heightened water levels alongside the river, making search operations even more difficult. Boats were deployed, but the adverse weather conditions forced the search to be halted temporarily. The swift response from various emergency services underscores the efforts being made to locate the missing man. The perilous conditions have posed significant challenges, with hopes remaining high for a breakthrough in the search operation.
As Storm Bert continues to wreak havoc across the UK, it is a race against time to find the man and ensure his safety. The collaboration between different agencies highlights the unity and determination in the face of adversity. The resilience of the search teams underscores the commitment to locating the missing individual amidst the harsh weather conditions. With the search poised to resume, there is optimism for a positive outcome as efforts intensify to bring the man back to safety. Stay tuned for updates as the search and rescue mission unfolds in these challenging circumstances.