Carmarthenshire, Wales – November 6, 2025 – Emergency services in southwest Wales have declared a major incident following one of the most severe flooding events in recent memory, triggered by relentless overnight downpours that battered Carmarthenshire and neighboring areas. The deluge, fueled by a combination of heavy rainfall, swollen rivers, and exceptionally high spring tides influenced by a supermoon, has left communities reeling, with dozens of residents rescued from submerged homes, vehicles, and even a care home. As dawn broke on Wednesday, cleanup efforts were underway, but forecasters warned of potential further disruptions through the weekend, underscoring the growing vulnerability of the region to climate-driven extreme weather.
The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) reported receiving over 450 emergency calls in a frantic 12-hour window from late Tuesday into early Wednesday, primarily concentrated in Carmarthenshire. This surge overwhelmed the Joint Fire Control (JFC) center, which coordinates responses across South Wales, prompting the activation of major incident protocols to streamline resources and inter-agency collaboration. "This has been a prolonged and challenging operation for our crews, who have worked tirelessly through the night in hazardous conditions," said Craig Flannery, Assistant Chief Fire Officer at MAWWFRS. The service's teams, supported by Dyfed-Powys Police, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and Natural Resources Wales (NRW), executed a series of high-stakes rescues that saved lives and prevented further tragedy.
Among the most harrowing interventions was the evacuation of a retirement housing complex in Whitland, a market town in central Carmarthenshire. At approximately 1:35 a.m. on Wednesday, firefighters from stations including Morriston, Swansea Central, Haverfordwest, Narberth, and Llandysul descended on St David's Avenue after reports of rapid inundation trapped 48 elderly residents inside. Using specialized rescue sleds and water rescue equipment, crews navigated chest-deep floodwaters to extract the group, many of whom required assistance due to mobility issues. The operation, described as "textbook but exhausting," highlighted the human cost of the floods, with residents later transferred to Carmarthen Leisure Centre, which the county council hastily converted into a rest center offering shelter, hot meals, and emotional support.
The crisis extended far beyond Whitland. In the coastal village of Ferryside, two separate incidents on Tuesday evening saw firefighters and RNLI volunteers wading through multiple flooded properties at Glan Morfa. Several residents, including families with young children, were led to safety and temporarily housed at the local rugby club, Ferryside RFC. "The water came up so fast; we barely had time to grab our essentials," recounted one evacuee, speaking anonymously to local reporters as volunteers distributed blankets and tea. Nearby, in St Clears, approximately 20 domestic and commercial properties succumbed to the deluge from the overflowing River Cynin, prompting the rescue of around 42 individuals. Crews employed similar tactics, ferrying people via sleds across what had become a makeshift river running through the high street. Businesses, including a beloved local bakery and a hardware store, reported water damage estimated in the tens of thousands of pounds, with owners now eyeing emergency grants from Carmarthenshire County Council.
Rural areas bore the brunt of the chaos, where fast-flowing waters turned country lanes into deathtraps. Earlier Tuesday afternoon, in the remote village of Ffarmers near Lampeter, a family of three adults and their two dogs found themselves marooned in their vehicle as torrents surged around them. Fire teams from Llandysul and surrounding stations responded swiftly, deploying extension ladders to bridge the raging current and haul the occupants to dry ground. "It was a miracle they stayed calm; one wrong move and it could have been fatal," noted a MAWWFRS spokesperson. This incident was one of several vehicle rescues, with police urging drivers to heed "ROAD CLOSED" signs after multiple cars were swept away or abandoned in deeper waters.
Compounding the human drama was the plight of animals caught in the flood's path. At Glanrhyd Dog Sanctuary in Trimsaran, near Kidwelly, owner Alison Clark faced a nightmare as river banks burst, submerging the facility and forcing 34 dogs—many strays and rescues themselves—into the loft for safety. Firefighters, arriving in the early hours, braved the murk to carry the terrified animals to higher ground, with some requiring veterinary checks for hypothermia. "I've lost everything—kennels, supplies, my livelihood—but the dogs are safe, and that's what matters," Clark told BBC reporters, her voice breaking as she surveyed the wreckage. The sanctuary, which relies on donations, has launched an online appeal, already raising over £5,000 from well-wishers across Wales.
The meteorological mayhem began building on Tuesday midday, when the Met Office extended a yellow weather warning for rain across much of south Wales, including Carmarthenshire, until 8 a.m. Wednesday. Up to 100mm of rain fell in just 24 hours in some spots, saturating already waterlogged soil and overwhelming drainage systems. NRW issued multiple flood warnings, including severe alerts for the River Towy around Carmarthen (where levels at Pothouse Wharf were expected to peak around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday), the River Ritec at Tenby, the River Taf at Whitland, and the River Teifi at Llechryd and Cenarth. A danger-to-life severe flood warning was active at Kiln Caravan Park near Tenby, where evacuations continued into Wednesday evening. High tides, amplified by the November supermoon—the fullest and closest lunar approach of 2025—exacerbated coastal risks, with NRW forecasting potential inundation of low-lying land and roads until at least Friday, November 7.
Infrastructure buckled under the strain. The A484 between Carmarthen and Kidwelly was shuttered due to flooding, stranding commuters and diverting heavy goods vehicles onto narrower backroads. Rail services on the Swansea-to-Llandrindod line ground to a halt after tracks were submerged, with Transport for Wales canceling dozens of trains and advising passengers to seek refunds. In Carmarthen's Pensarn industrial estate, several warehouses and factories reported structural damage, while Pontyates saw fields and farmyards transformed into lakes, with preliminary reports of livestock losses. A landslide even erased a section of National Cycle Network Route 47 south of Tumble, closing the path indefinitely and raising concerns about erosion in hilly terrains.
Education took a hit as well, with seven schools in Carmarthenshire and one in Pembrokeshire shuttered Wednesday due to access issues and staff travel disruptions. Parents in affected areas, like those in Ammanford and Llandybie, turned to online learning amid warnings of further low-lying flooding near the River Loughor. The county council, acting as the Lead Local Flood Authority, activated its emergency flood response plan, dispatching crews to pump out standing water and clear debris. "Our teams are on the ground around the clock, but this event shows why we need investment in resilient infrastructure," stated a council spokesperson. Grants of up to £5,000 are now available for businesses suffering internal flooding, alongside recovery resources on the council's dedicated website.
As the waters recede, questions loom about prevention. Carmarthenshire's flood history is checkered—Storm Dennis in 2020 flooded 63 properties, while Storm Bert last November left pubs like the Cresselly Arms in Pontargothi waist-deep in muck for the third time in years. Residents in Cynwyl Elfed and other villages expressed frustration over planned housing on outdated drainage systems, calling for federal intervention. NRW's monitoring continues, with 77 flood-related alerts active as of Wednesday afternoon, spanning rivers and coasts. Climate experts link the intensity to warming oceans and erratic jet streams, predicting more such events without mitigation.
Flannery echoed the sentiment: "These rescues were challenging, but our communities' resilience shines through. We urge everyone: never drive through floodwater—turn around, don't drown." With skies clearing but rivers still high, Wales braces for the long road to recovery, a stark reminder of nature's fury in an era of uncertainty.
