Embankment of 18th-century canal in Cheshire collapses after flooding | Cheshire

Engineers are assessing the extent of damage to the more than 250-year-old canal after flooding caused part of its elevated embankment to collapse dramatically in Cheshire.

The Bridgewater Canal, previously used to transport coal but now a leisure waterway, has collapsed near Dunham Massey, the first major breach in the waterway in 54 years.

Drone footage showed the man-made levee supporting the canal 40 feet (12 meters) above the Bolin River briefly breaching. Witnesses said the collapse looked like the aftermath of a bomb detonation.

Water from the canal flooded land near the village of Little Bollington, flooding a nearby sewage treatment plant operated by United Utilities in Dunham Massey. The company has been contacted for comment.

This collapse is another example of how increasing flooding as a result of climate change poses a serious threat to homes, businesses and national infrastructure.

Cheshire Police had to evacuate buildings and close sections of the M56 after the collapse.

The canal is owned by the Bridgewater Canal Company. The chief engineer was at the scene on Thursday to assess the extent of the damage, along with police, fire and environment agency officials.

“It felt like a bomb had gone off,” said Daniel Kay, who was walking his dog at the time of the collapse.

“As I was walking along the towpath, I thought the canal doesn't normally flow like this and the water level was much lower than normal. Then I heard the sound of water flowing like a waterfall. I could hear it. I know the River Bolin was flowing below, but I thought it must have been really strong at the time,” he told the Manchester Evening News.

“And as I kept walking, I realized how it appeared naturally. The embankment had just collapsed where the steel supports of the canal foundation had been. Trees had fallen down. I could see that the sidewalk was gone.”

The Canal and River Trust charity said: “This breach highlights the vulnerability that all canals and infrastructure of this age face due to climate change, and why we all need to keep these national treasures open and safe. “It shows how hard we work to maintain it.”

Cheshire Police urged the public not to attempt to visit affected areas. Special Assistant Police Commissioner Alison Ross said: “My police officers have been working through the night to ensure the safety of residents in the affected areas. To date, many members of the public have attempted to visit the affected canals. We have closed a number of roads to traffic…and we ask the public to respect the closures for their own safety.”