Overview
- A major incident was declared in Whitchurch before dawn on 22 December after a large breach on the Llangollen/Shropshire Union Canal released heavy water flows into nearby land.
- Emergency services helped more than 10 people to safety, relocated about a dozen boat residents to a welfare centre, and reported no injuries.
- The breach is roughly 50 metres by 50 metres with three boats caught in the hole as multi‑agency teams installed dams, secured the scene, and closed the towpath and navigation.
- The Canal & River Trust says investigations are under way and leaders warn that rebuilding the embankment and fully restoring the waterway will take months.
- Reports indicate a substantial water loss and an extended stretch of canal drained, with estimates including around 100 million gallons and about 1.6km affected.