Mudslide struck Mansfield, UK: 35 residences evacuated

35 residences have been evacuated after a mudslide hit near the Bank End Close in Mansfield, United Kingdom.

The ground failure occurred at about 17:00 local time on November 7, 2019, following a heavy rainfall that hit the region. Emergency crews rushed to the affected area after residents issued a safety alert.

The debris of the landslide had reached the gardens of a few houses. Police ordered the evacuation of 35 residences and the road network between Berry Hill Road and Jenny Beckett's Lane was temporarily closed. Drivers were advised to avoid the wider region.

A manager of a restaurant in Mansfield, located close to the affected area, stated that the mudslide has caused severe damage to properties and that the conditions remain hazardous due to the weather forecast. “The top of the bank has come down along with trees. It has covered people’s back gardens. It has covered over six-foot (1.8-meter) fences. Police and fire have been evacuating people from their houses, it’s a bit unstable especially with the rain forecast for tonight,” he said.

People who had to evacuate their properties protested against the authorities as they had previously raised concerns about the stability of the slopes above their houses. The damaged area used to be a quarry where new houses were constructed in 2011. The landslide-prone area is across the quarry’s wall. Some of them criticize the fact that the cliff was not reinforced to prevent its collapse. “The quarry wall is only around a hundred meters from where I live so it’s always been a worry that something could happen. It is concerning and the council should do more to protect it because they are family homes with young children. It is bad because people have voiced concerns about it around five years ago too,” a local resident, stated.

Colin Holmes, another local resident who lives along the top of the old quarry and owns a printing business nearby, emphasized the fact that authorities were aware of the risk but only minor measures were taken.  “A few years ago, the council sent letters saying they need to do urgent work on the cliff-face and it highlighted they knew of the dangers. I was quite angry with the whole situation and what has happened now makes me feel like they have treated us like children with how it has gone on for too long. Some safety measures were put in place like leaving a gap between the cliff-face and peoples back-gardens, although this is a pretty small measure”, Mr. Holmes said.

Authorities were also concerned about potential flooding of the River Maun which flows through Mansfield. The water level was already high and continued to rise. Therefore, an alert was issued on November 7 and people were warned to avoid floodwater.

Click here to watch the impressive moment the mudslide struck the garden of the house.