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North Cornwall: Boscastle: 15 people feared missing after flash floods

Fifteen people are still unaccounted for after flash floods surged through a small fishing village. Buildings and cars were washed into the sea as wall of water poured down through Boscastle, in Cornwall.
Today rescuers are sifting through mountains of debris from wrecked buildings and vehicles to check for casualties, after reports that 15 people may still be missing.
<IMG alt="Boscastle Flood" hspace=2 src="http://www.cornwall24.co.uk/modules/ContentExpress/img_repository/boscastle2.jpg" align=right border=0>Dozens of holidaymakers and villagers have been airlifted to safety after torrential rain caused the flash floods.
More rain is forecast for the area, but it will not be as heavy as yesterday. Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has arrived in the village to offer his support.
Holidaymaker Wayne Grundy told Sky News: "The rain came down and turned the roads into rivers. Cars started coming down the High Street and then out to sea.
"I actually saw a caravan and two cars washed over the top of a bridge.
I have never seen anything like it," he said.
Two buildings in Boscastle are known to have collapsed in the waters and a bridge washed away.
And as many as 50 vehicles are believed to have been washed into the harbour.
Many villagers spent the night in a local community hall and the power has been turned off for safety reasons.
Seven rescue helicopters and 25 fire engines were involved in the operation.
Michael Mulford, spokesman for RAF Kinloss which is co-ordinating the military rescue effort, said "dozens" of people had been rescued.
Environment Agency spokesman Mike Dunning said that the River Valancy in Boscastle had burst its banks.
"There was a very concentrated burst of rain. About 60mm fell in the space of two hours, which has caused flooding," he said.