Heavy rainfall and a rare astronomical event have combined to unleash severe flooding across large swathes of Wales, leaving communities in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, and Swansea reeling from devastation, disrupted infrastructure, and ongoing rescue efforts. The deluge, which began on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, quickly overwhelmed rivers, roads, and homes, prompting emergency declarations and a major mobilization of resources to help those trapped by rising waters.
One of the most heart-wrenching stories to emerge from the chaos unfolded at the Glanrhyd Dog Sanctuary in Trimsaran, Carmarthenshire. According to BBC, Alison Clark, the sanctuary’s owner, was left “devastated” after 37 dogs became trapped in the loft as rapidly rising waters engulfed the property. “The dogs are safe. I kept them alive yesterday,” Clark told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, describing how she and emergency crews worked frantically to move the animals to higher ground as the floodwaters followed them up each level of the building. Nine dogs were rescued by fire and rescue services using boats, but the remaining dogs—described as “more reactive”—were left stranded in crates in the loft, with dwindling supplies and no access to food or proper sanitation.
“It’s just devastating, everything’s gone,” Clark told the BBC, noting that the sanctuary’s dog food supply had been almost entirely wiped out, bedding was soaked, and the property was without electricity. The floodwaters had receded slightly by Wednesday morning, but the building remained underwater, and the road was “totally flooded [with] no access in and out.” Clark added, “No one, in the 25 years that they’ve been living here, has ever seen anything like this.”
The catastrophe at the sanctuary was just one of hundreds of emergencies across Wales. The Cambrian News reported that the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) had described the last 24 hours as “extremely challenging,” with operational crews, tactical officers, and Joint Fire Control Centre (JFCC) operators processing more than 450 calls related to flooding incidents in just 12 hours. Assistant Chief Fire Officer Craig Flannery praised the “dedication and professionalism” of staff and the “courageous efforts” of crews, saying, “Our crews have been truly exceptional in assisting and protecting our communities.”
The scale of the flooding forced authorities to declare a major incident at 2:10 am on Wednesday, November 5, in Whitland, where crews attended a retirement housing complex that had become inundated. At 1:35 am, fire crews from multiple stations rescued 48 people using rescue sleds and water rescue equipment, temporarily sheltering residents at Whitland Town Hall. In total, MAWWFRS responded to a series of dramatic rescues, including three people and two dogs trapped in fast-flowing water at Ffarmers near Lampeter, and 34 dogs rescued from flooding at Glanrhyd Dog Sanctuary in Kidwelly.
Flooding also took a heavy toll on infrastructure and daily life. Swansea’s Cwmbwrla area saw customers at The Gatehouse pub forced to evacuate around 3:30 pm on Tuesday as water surged through drains. Landlady Vicky Sheffield told the BBC, “In 26 years this has never happened before, and now it has happened twice in six weeks. It’s quite scary.” Swansea council reported that a collapsed culvert and overwhelmed pumping equipment exacerbated the situation, leaving 400 homes temporarily without power. The council attributed the culvert’s collapse to a blocked sewer linked to a recently demolished social club. “We are doing everything we can to reopen the road as soon as possible,” the authority stated.
Elsewhere, the floods led to the closure of seven schools in Carmarthenshire and one in Pembrokeshire, according to BBC and El-Balad. Train services between Whitland and Carmarthen were suspended due to water on the tracks, with disruption expected until at least 1:00 pm on Wednesday. Pembrokeshire council warned of “widespread surface water flooding” and urged motorists to avoid driving through floodwater, while the Mid and West Wales Fire Service rescued several drivers stranded in their vehicles.
Natural Resources Wales issued at least 16 flood warnings and 44 flood alerts across the country, warning that river levels remained dangerously high and more rain could trigger further alerts. In Ceredigion, flooding was expected for properties adjacent to the River Teifi in Cenarth, Llechryd, and Newcastle Emlyn, with Llechryd Bridge and the B4476 road closed due to the deluge. The Met Office had put a yellow weather warning in place for much of south Wales, predicting further rain and high tides.
One unusual factor intensified the flooding: a “supermoon”—the closest full moon to Earth in 2025—brought exceptionally high spring tides, compounding the impact of heavy rainfall and swelling rivers. As BBC explained, a supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with its closest approach to Earth, magnifying tidal effects and increasing the risk of coastal flooding. The rare astronomical event peaked on the night of November 5, coinciding with the region’s worst flooding in years.
Local authorities and emergency services scrambled to offer shelter and support to displaced residents. Carmarthenshire County Council opened Carmarthen Leisure Centre as a rest centre for those affected by flooding in Whitland and St Clears. “Our crews have been working throughout the night and are still on site this morning in various locations throughout the county dealing with the impact of the flooding,” a council spokesperson told the Cambrian News. Residents were urged to exercise caution while traveling and to check flood risk updates for their area.
As the rain eased slightly on Wednesday, the focus shifted to recovery and the daunting task of cleaning up. For many, the emotional toll was as severe as the physical damage. Jon Davison, co-owner of The Cresselly Arms in Pontargothi, Carmarthen, described water in the pub as waist-deep, with windows smashed by debris from the river Cothi. “It’s shocking—what can you say? It’s terrible,” he told BBC, lamenting the recurring costs and disruption caused by frequent flooding.
The events of early November 2025 have left a lasting mark on communities throughout Wales. From the heroic rescues of both people and animals to the widespread infrastructure damage and personal loss, the floods have tested the resilience of local residents and emergency services alike. As floodwaters slowly recede and the supermoon wanes, the people of Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, and Swansea face the long road to recovery—determined, but forever changed by the events of these extraordinary days.
