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Suffolk floods: Tidal surge 'worse than 1953' | Suffolk floods: Tidal surge 'worse than 1953' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The tidal surge that hit Suffolk on Thursday night was worse than the one that caused fatal floods in 1953, the Environment Agency said. | The tidal surge that hit Suffolk on Thursday night was worse than the one that caused fatal floods in 1953, the Environment Agency said. |
Flood waters built up in the early hours and remained in Lowestoft, Southwold and Snape - but in Aldeburgh and Ipswich they receded quickly. | |
Friday's flood warnings along the Suffolk coast were downgraded from severe by the Environment Agency. | |
Flooded pubs in Southwold and Snape are expected to be closed for days. | |
Suffolk Police's Assistant Chief Constable Tim Newcombe said: "The comparisons to 1953 are valid, but the big difference is we've had no loss of life and no significant injuries. | Suffolk Police's Assistant Chief Constable Tim Newcombe said: "The comparisons to 1953 are valid, but the big difference is we've had no loss of life and no significant injuries. |
"One of the key things we'll be doing is having a full inspection of sea defences to see if they've been damaged and need to be shored up." | "One of the key things we'll be doing is having a full inspection of sea defences to see if they've been damaged and need to be shored up." |
Coast 'still unsafe' | Coast 'still unsafe' |
The Environment Agency's spokesman Simon Barlow said: "The coast is still a very unsafe place to be and there may still be the opportunity for flood defences to fail and for water to enter land. | |
"The expectation is that this surge is continuing to drop and by Saturday we will have seen the worst of it." | "The expectation is that this surge is continuing to drop and by Saturday we will have seen the worst of it." |
The Harbour Inn on the River Blyth at Southwold, which has a history of flooding, was under water again. | The Harbour Inn on the River Blyth at Southwold, which has a history of flooding, was under water again. |
Nick Attwell, its landlord, spent Thursday moving furniture and equipment out of the pub. | Nick Attwell, its landlord, spent Thursday moving furniture and equipment out of the pub. |
He said: "I've seen it rush in before, but I've never seen it rush in so quickly and it ended up about 5ft (1.5m) off the ground. | He said: "I've seen it rush in before, but I've never seen it rush in so quickly and it ended up about 5ft (1.5m) off the ground. |
"Gas and electrics were all turned off, but we're going to be knee-high in water again with the next tides. | "Gas and electrics were all turned off, but we're going to be knee-high in water again with the next tides. |
"We're going to have a massive clear-up operation, but one that we're probably not going to start for a couple of days." | "We're going to have a massive clear-up operation, but one that we're probably not going to start for a couple of days." |
Boat washed away | Boat washed away |
Alister Cruickshank took photographs to the north of Southwold and said Easton Bavents, where houses have been subjected to the ongoing threat of erosion, had lost 7ft (2m) of cliff. | |
Further down the coast at the mouth of the River Deben, Felixstowe Ferry hamlet was flooded and it caused damage to wooden homes and sheds and scattered debris around. | |
Steven Reid, assistant harbour master, said: "You can see by the devastation that the Environment Agency got it right, so good on them. | Steven Reid, assistant harbour master, said: "You can see by the devastation that the Environment Agency got it right, so good on them. |
"It's only material damage and that can be replaced and repaired and nobody lost their lives. | "It's only material damage and that can be replaced and repaired and nobody lost their lives. |
"One 20ft (5m) boat, which was resting on the ground, was washed out to sea, but we let it go because there was no danger to life." | |
Power supplies | Power supplies |
Many homes lost electricity after high winds brought down supply cables on Thursday. | Many homes lost electricity after high winds brought down supply cables on Thursday. |
UK Power Networks said it had dealt with most of the problems by Friday afternoon. | UK Power Networks said it had dealt with most of the problems by Friday afternoon. |
A spokesperson said: "The electricity network in the East of England remained undamaged by flood waters overnight and there are currently no widespread interruptions to customers' electricity supplies. | A spokesperson said: "The electricity network in the East of England remained undamaged by flood waters overnight and there are currently no widespread interruptions to customers' electricity supplies. |
"We have been asked to check electrical equipment at up to 200 flooded homes in the Lowestoft area. This is likely to take several days to gain safe access." | "We have been asked to check electrical equipment at up to 200 flooded homes in the Lowestoft area. This is likely to take several days to gain safe access." |
Bridge Road at Snape and the A12 at Blythburgh remained closed to traffic on Friday afternoon. |