On 16 August 2004, a devastating flood swept through the small Cornish village of Boscastle. Very heavy rain fell in storms close to the village, causing two rivers to burst their banks. About two billion litres of water then rushed down the valley straight into Boscastle. Residents had little time to react.
Occurring, bizarrely, fifty-two years to the day after the famous Lynmouth floods, which killed thirty-five people, the Boscastle flood destroyed six buildings, swept fifty cars out to sea, broke up several roads and caused more than sixty people to have to be airlifted to safety by seven hastily-scrambled rescue
This has always been one of my favourite places to visit! I remember the flood which caused so much damage - it was horrifying to watch the cars being swept out to sea! They have done an amazing job with repairs.
Looks a lot like some of the mountain towns here, except the hills are higher. But the hills come down and meet at a creek which has no where to go but up when it can't keep up with the amount of rain falling. The floods haven't be quite so bad but devastation nonetheless.
I was there soon after the floods, it was heat breaking to see and I avoided going back for a few years. Last year you would no know a flood had happened.
