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| Tidal surge hits east UK coastal towns after storm | Tidal surge hits east UK coastal towns after storm |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The tidal surge which hit the east coast of Britain has been described as the "most serious" for 60 years. | The tidal surge which hit the east coast of Britain has been described as the "most serious" for 60 years. |
| Thousands were forced to abandon their homes as tides in parts of the North Sea reached higher levels than the devastating floods of 1953. | Thousands were forced to abandon their homes as tides in parts of the North Sea reached higher levels than the devastating floods of 1953. |
| Flood waters have receded in many areas but authorities are warning that high tides later on Friday could cause further damage. | Flood waters have receded in many areas but authorities are warning that high tides later on Friday could cause further damage. |
| Two people died in Thursday's storms, but the weather is now easing. | Two people died in Thursday's storms, but the weather is now easing. |
| Seven cliff-top homes collapsed in Hemsby, Norfolk, where a lifeboat station has been also washed into the sea. | Seven cliff-top homes collapsed in Hemsby, Norfolk, where a lifeboat station has been also washed into the sea. |
| But the Environment Agency said 800,000 homes had been protected by flood defences and better forecasting had given people "vital time" to prepare. | But the Environment Agency said 800,000 homes had been protected by flood defences and better forecasting had given people "vital time" to prepare. |
| The agency added: "Significant flooding along the east coast of England is expected to continue today [Friday], as the most serious coastal tidal surge for over 60 years will continue to affect communities." | The agency added: "Significant flooding along the east coast of England is expected to continue today [Friday], as the most serious coastal tidal surge for over 60 years will continue to affect communities." |
| Environment Secretary Owen Paterson chaired a meeting of the government's Cobra committee to discuss the floods. | Environment Secretary Owen Paterson chaired a meeting of the government's Cobra committee to discuss the floods. |
| Speaking afterwards, he said the situation was "not over" and asked the public to follow advice from police and other authorities. | Speaking afterwards, he said the situation was "not over" and asked the public to follow advice from police and other authorities. |
| "Conditions like this only occur in some places every 500 years," he said. | "Conditions like this only occur in some places every 500 years," he said. |
| He added: "And I would really pay tribute to all of those who have been working through the night." | He added: "And I would really pay tribute to all of those who have been working through the night." |
| Before dawn the Environment Agency, which covers England and Wales, had more than 50 severe flood warnings in place, but that number has fallen steadily during the day. | Before dawn the Environment Agency, which covers England and Wales, had more than 50 severe flood warnings in place, but that number has fallen steadily during the day. |
| The agency said some flood defences had been breached but repairs were under way. | The agency said some flood defences had been breached but repairs were under way. |
| A second tidal surge, which the agency said should be 1m (3ft) lower, has already passed Scotland and the far north of England and should reach Great Yarmouth at about 11:00 GMT and London at 15:00 GMT. | A second tidal surge, which the agency said should be 1m (3ft) lower, has already passed Scotland and the far north of England and should reach Great Yarmouth at about 11:00 GMT and London at 15:00 GMT. |
| Rescue teams have been working through the night in many areas. | Rescue teams have been working through the night in many areas. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| Gale-force winds affected many parts of Scotland on Thursday, causing major transport disruption including all train services being stopped. | |
| Transport in Scotland is now returning to normal, but thousands of homes are still without electricity. | |
| Two people are known to have died in the Thursday's extreme weather - a lorry driver whose vehicle overturned in West Lothian and an 83-year-old man struck by a falling tree in Retford, Nottinghamshire. | |
| The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has now lifted its flood warnings but the Met Office has yellow weather warnings in place for snow in northern Scotland until 12:00 GMT. | The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has now lifted its flood warnings but the Met Office has yellow weather warnings in place for snow in northern Scotland until 12:00 GMT. |
| There are also yellow warnings for ice in parts of Northern Ireland and north-west England, and wind on England's east coast. Yellow warnings mean "be aware". | There are also yellow warnings for ice in parts of Northern Ireland and north-west England, and wind on England's east coast. Yellow warnings mean "be aware". |
| High tides in parts of north Wales battered by storms hours earlier passed without further major flooding. | High tides in parts of north Wales battered by storms hours earlier passed without further major flooding. |
| Lifeboat crews from south Wales were drafted in to help colleagues in the north amid fears coastal areas could be hit for a second time in 24 hours. | Lifeboat crews from south Wales were drafted in to help colleagues in the north amid fears coastal areas could be hit for a second time in 24 hours. |
| But emergency services have reported a mostly quiet Friday morning so far. | But emergency services have reported a mostly quiet Friday morning so far. |
| Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) said it had restored power to most customers after strong winds caused disruption to supplies. | Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) said it had restored power to most customers after strong winds caused disruption to supplies. |
| BBC weather presenter Matt Taylor explained that "storm surges" begin when a rising area of low pressure takes pressure off the surface of the sea, allowing it to "bulge" upwards. | BBC weather presenter Matt Taylor explained that "storm surges" begin when a rising area of low pressure takes pressure off the surface of the sea, allowing it to "bulge" upwards. |
| "Then, as that pulls away, you get the very strong winds on the back edge of the low pressure and then that shoves that bulge of high sea levels down through the North Sea," he said. | "Then, as that pulls away, you get the very strong winds on the back edge of the low pressure and then that shoves that bulge of high sea levels down through the North Sea," he said. |
| Conditions across the UK are expected to have improved by the weekend. | Conditions across the UK are expected to have improved by the weekend. |
| In northern Europe, hurricane-force winds and tidal surges have killed at least seven people, flooded parts of Hamburg and left thousands of homes without electricity. | In northern Europe, hurricane-force winds and tidal surges have killed at least seven people, flooded parts of Hamburg and left thousands of homes without electricity. |
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