Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan has praised the 'impressive' efforts of an RAF Sea King helicopter crew caught on camera evacuating people from a flooded caravan park near Aberystwyth, west Wales, as the mammoth clean-up begins.
The River Leri burst its banks overnight under pressure from the driving rain and winds of up to 70mph, as homes in villages across the area were battered by the elements.
The huge clean-up operation has now started as locals, of which up to 150 were displaced, attempt to repair the damage from flood water lashing up against properties.
Welsh Secretary Ms Gillan said the situation is now 'under control' and praised the 'very impressive [rescue] operations' in 'horrific weather conditions' that had earlier been caught on camera.
The worst-hit areas were several parks and river-side properties, including the Riverside Caravan Park in Llandre where struggling families were rescued by lifeboats and three people had to be airlifted from the roofs of caravans and other mobile and static homes.
Clear skies: The heavy rainfall of earlier has subsided, but the flood waters remain at the Beachside Holiday Park near Aberystwyth (Picture: PA)One Royal National Lifeboat Institute crew assisting in the rescue effort even became trapped themselves - prompting an RAF Sea King helicopter to be called in from the neighbouring district to pull them to safety.
Earlier, the full scale of the challenge facing the rescue teams was revealed in a video taken from the helicopter, which shows emergency workers being winched down onto the roof of a static home.
The building appears to be almost completely submerged as the crew extract people stranded inside, as the wind and rain swirls around - making the mission all the more treacherous.
'Those involved in the rescue mission at the caravan parks in Llandre have acted quickly and with courage,' Ms Gillan added.
'Wales Office are in contact with the teams involved and I would like to offer them my support and thanks for the way in which they have come to the aid of all the residents and holiday makers affected, and kept disruption to a minimum.'
Stephen South, the owner of the Riverside Caravan Park, said everyone had been accounted for and has confirmed the operation to begin repairs has begun.
Large parts of the nearby village of Talybont lie underwater (Picture: Alamy)Earlier on Saturday, he said: 'At 2am the river that runs alongside the site breached the banks.
'Some people left of their own accord when water levels were around 2ft but it gradually got worse and we have been evacuating people ever since.
'They launched the life boat to get people but the force of the water swept the lifeboat into one of the buildings.
'The last people to be rescued were the lifeboat crew.'
Lifeboats are being used to rescue people from a Welsh caravan park (BBC)A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: 'There is a large amount of water and a heavy current running through the caravan park.'
The representative went on to explain that dozens of personnel from the fire service are in attendance at the scene.
Many were, and continue to be, armed with a range of rescue aids, including boats as the conditions affect various surrounding areas in different ways.
Measures are also being taken to stave off flooding in villages, with images from the scene showing front doors almost half-submerged beneath the water.
Royal Air Force Sea King helicopters were used in the emergency operation, while lifeboats are also available to stricken holidaymakers.
A breakdown truck is stranded in flood waters near the town of Machynlleth (Picture: Getty)Another 11 people in the region were rescued from nearby Mill House caravan park at Dol-y-Bont, also in Llandre. They were attended by the fire service.
Between 4ft and 5ft of water has been reported as running through the nearby town of Talybont, leading to a crowd of about 30 local people seeking refuge in the local community hall.
Emergency services first received a call-out with news that the water had reached serious levels at about 3am this morning.
Caravans and mobile homes lie submerged at Riverside Caravan Park (Picture: BBC)PICTURES: Wales hit by floods and heavy rain
Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/901525-welsh-sec-praises-impressive-wales-floods-airlift-rescue-caught-on-camera#ixzz1xQMI9Y00
Flooding hits UK
The A487 into Machynlleth in Powys, Wales is blocked by the fire service due to safety concerns caused by fast flowing flood water. 09/06/2012
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