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UK floods 'worst in 60 years'
23/07/2007 10:19 - (SA)
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| Motor homes are stranded in floodwater in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire following torrential rain in Britain. (Barry Batchelor, AP) |
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London - Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited the scene of the worst flooding in Britain in 60 years on Monday as thousands of people remained cut off and many without access to clean water.
With swathes of central and western England under water and more rain on its way, Brown flew in a helicopter over the water-logged county of Gloucestershire before meeting officials handling the response on the ground.
Thousands of homes have been hit by the floods, which have prompted the Royal Air Force to carry out what it said was probably its biggest-ever peacetime rescue operation here, picking up more than 100 people.
The worst hit areas are Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Oxfordshire, where nine flood warnings are in place and the swollen Thames and Severn rivers are spilling over with chaotic results for homes and businesses.
Compounding the misery, a reported 150 000 homes do not have drinking water after a water treatment plant in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, was closed after becoming deluged.
Noting the irony of the situation, the Daily Mail's headline on Monday read: "Water, water everywhere but...not a drop to drink!"
The situation led to panic buying of bottled water in the county.
Amid criticism from opposition parties over the government's handling of the crisis, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn is set to make an emergency statement to lawmakers at the House of Commons later in the day.
The government's Cobra emergency planning committee met on Sunday to discuss responses to the emergency.
Weather forecasters the Met Office are predicting more rain in southern England on Monday, although Tuesday is set to be drier.
Benn warned on BBC radio that the emergency was "not yet over" and warned people to stay away from the water and look out for friends and neighbours.
- AFP
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