Mum describes "dramatic" landslip as Eden Project is evacuated

There was significant flooding on Sunday

Author: Sarah YeomanPublished 21st Dec 2020

A mum from Cornwall says water was gushing down the side of the quarry at the Eden Project when they had to be evacuated.

Several landslides occurred at the attraction on Sunday following significant rainfall and flooding.

Everybody on the site was asked to leave for safety reasons.

Lydia was there to take her children ice skating when it happened.

"We arrived at the Eden Project at about 9.30am to go ice skating and made our way down, I noticed someone looking up at the side of quarry but didn't pay much notice, we went in to go ice skating, we got as far as taking off our shoes before someone said 'sorry you're going to have out your shoes back on, there's been a landslide'.

"So we didn't make it onto the ice, we made our way back up, and we could see that water was just gushing down the side of the quarry, a mass of land had just slumped in over one of the paths which isn't used at this time of year, and is over the other side.

"All the water and debris was flowing down one of the paths, and kind of going underneath where the ice rink was based, not a lot at that point but you could see that it was getting heavier, so they were getting people out of the ice rink as soon as they could and out of the whole of the Eden Project, because safety wise I guess they didn't know what was going to happen."

Lydia Allt

"It was all quite dramatic and interesting to watch in some ways, I had two very sad little girls who couldn't go ice-skating but never mind, the safety of everyone was really important and the Eden Project did a really great job of getting everyone and making sire everyone was safe."

Lydia Allt

Bosses confirmed that nobody was injured and the damage is being assessed.

"High volumes of rainwater have caused several landslips on the edge of the former quarry.

"Managers closed the site as a safety precaution and are now assessing the damage. There has been no injury to persons."

The Eden Project

The whole site was closed for safety reasons and it will stay shut for all of Monday.

Bosses say they are reviewing the situation and will provide further updates.

Read more:

Video shows 'several landslips' at Eden Project following flooding

Eden Project closed due to flooding

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