Reports that the bodies of a couple have been found in the landslide at the Beaminster Tunnel
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The area surrounding a road tunnel in Dorset where two people died in a landslide has been declared "unstable" by the county council.
Rosemary Snell and Michael Rolfe, from Somerset, were found in a buried car at the entrance to Beaminster Tunnel nearly a week after they went missing.
A meeting was held at Beaminster public hall on Monday evening to explain the response by the emergency services.
Attendees were told it would be several months before the road could reopen.
The public meeting was called to allow Dorset Police, Dorset Fire and Rescue and Dorset County Council to explain the circumstances surrounding the landslip and why Ms Snell and Mr Rolfe's bodies remained undiscovered for more than a week.
Police said at the time of the landslip it was not known that anyone was missing.
Photograph by Stephen Banks
Police face inquiry over couple lost in landslide.
Dorset Police have released a further statement:
'Police can confirm that the bodies of a man and a woman have been recovered from the vehicle that had been buried in the Beaminster Tunnel landslide.
'No further details of their identity will be released until the identification process is complete in conjunction with HM Coroner.
'Officers are appealing for anyone who may have seen the victim’s silver coloured Skoda motor car being driven on the A3066 from Beaminster village centre to Beaminster Tunnel between 9.30pm and 10.30pm on Saturday 7 July 2012.
'This was the recent day of very heavy rainfall throughout Dorset.'
BBC Points West have posted a video with an interview with Assistant Chief Constable James Vaughan. Watch it on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pointswest
Pictures from 10 days ago on an ITN report:
VIDEO: Louise Hubball reports for the BBC.
ITV West Country reporter Duncan Sleightholme speaking from the North side of the Beaminster Tunnel:
The scene at Beaminster Tunnel Credit: ITV West
www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2012-07-17/bodies-found-buried-in-car-in-beaminster-tunnel/
Up on the BBC News website now: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-18872203
From Avon and Somerset Constabulary:
"Police searching for two people missing from Somerset have recovered a vehicle in Dorset.
Enquiries into the missing man and woman suggested they were in the Beaminster area on Saturday July 7 and Dorset Police were requested to check the area of Beaminster tunnel.
Dorset Police have found a car under a large volume of earth and mud. At this time it is too early to speculate about the outcome but families have been informed and are being supported by family liaison officers."
Dorset Police have just issued this statement:
"At approximately 6.30pm yesterday (Monday 16 July 2012), Dorset Fire and Rescue Service were contacted by Avon and Somerset police regarding the partial collapse of Beaminster Tunnel.
Crews were subsequently sent to investigate the area, and following a period of excavation discovered a vehicle under a large volume of earth and mud."
At approximately 7.20pm yesterday (Monday 16th July 2012), Dorset Police were advised that Dorset Fire and Rescue Service personnel had discovered a car under a large volume of earth outside the entrance of Beaminster tunnel.
The road has been closed and a cordon has been put in place while emergency service staff attempt to excavate the vehicle."
Via www.itv.com/news/westcountry/update/2012-07-17/breaking-car-found-in-beaminster-tunnel/
From www.thisisdorset.net/news/tidnews/9820804.Bodies_found_buried_in_landslide/
A COUPLE lay buried in their car for more than a week after being caught in a landslide.
The bodies of the man and woman were only discovered after police used credit card details to retrace their steps and follow the route they may have taken.
The gruesome discovery was made on Monday night when firefighters unearthed the car near the Beaminster Tunnel in West Dorset.
The A3066 road has been closed at the Tunnel since heavy flooding on Friday July 6 and Saturday July 7 caused a landslide on the hill above the tunnel which fell onto the road and some structural damage to tunnel itself.
Traffic has been diverted from Crewkerne into Beaminster.
As of yet unconfirmed, there are a number of reports coming in that the bodies of a couple trapped in the landslide at the Beaminster Tunnel have been found. There was a large police presence late last night and this morning, with helicopters and forensic teams reported to be heading to the area.
