Yahoo News Meltdown! Heatwave softens tarmac on Britain's roads, causing vehicles to sink
We’ve seen railtracks buckle, threats of water shortages and concerns over pets and the elderly and vulnerable, but there is a new victim of this summer’s heatwave – the roads.
It seems Britain’s roads and pavements are starting to melt after days of top temperatures.
In Newcastle, a 24-year-old had to be rescued by firefighters after he became stuck in melted Tarmac.
Today we had an incident in Heaton, young man stepped on some tarmac and lost his footing The tarmac had become so soft during the current heatwave that it melted. He stayed calm & called 999 Thankfully he didn’t break his ankle he was wearing his granddads @drmartens!#StaySafe pic.twitter.com/D77PdsC9wG
— Tyne and Wear FRS (@Tyne_Wear_FRS) July 5, 2018
The man dialled 999 after he sank “thigh deep” into the road in the Heaton area of the city and got stuck.
Firefighters from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service had to dig the man out with a hammer and chisel.
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He escaped uninjured, apparently thanks to the fact he was wearing “his granddad’s Dr Martens”.
A fire and rescue service spokesman blamed the heatwave and warned people to be mindful while walking around.
Further south in Newbury, Berkshire, a bin lorry got stuck after it appeared to sink into the road.
The lorry’s back wheels sunk into the tarmac and it needed to be removed from where it was stuck on the Old Bath Road using a crane.
It must be hot in #Newbury today. The road’s melting. #sinkhole pic.twitter.com/aZcXDuW913
— Derek Britton (@DerekBrittonUK) July 5, 2018
Nobody was injured and investigations are underway into why the vehicle sank – with some suspecting it is due to the heatwave.
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