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| UK storms: Giant waves hit amid fresh flooding fears | UK storms: Giant waves hit amid fresh flooding fears |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Huge waves have battered southern and western coasts of the UK, as forecasters warn exposed areas could see a fresh round of flooding. | Huge waves have battered southern and western coasts of the UK, as forecasters warn exposed areas could see a fresh round of flooding. |
| Waves of up to 27ft (8m) were recorded off Land's End, Cornwall. | Waves of up to 27ft (8m) were recorded off Land's End, Cornwall. |
| The environment secretary said seven people had died and 1,700 homes had been flooded in England due to storms and flooding in December and January. | The environment secretary said seven people had died and 1,700 homes had been flooded in England due to storms and flooding in December and January. |
| There are currently three severe flood warnings in place in England and travel by road and rail is being hit. | There are currently three severe flood warnings in place in England and travel by road and rail is being hit. |
| In Aberystwyth, all buildings along the promenade has been evacuated after Natural Resources Wales (NRW) warned of an "exceptional" wave swell expected later. | |
| Woman rescued | Woman rescued |
| Western and southern areas have borne the brunt of the latest severe weather, with flooding leaving some villages in Somerset cut off, properties flooded in Cornwall, rivers bursting their banks in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, and residents forced from their homes in the centre of Salisbury, Wiltshire. | |
| The Environment Agency has warned communities in Dorset, Oxfordshire, south Wiltshire, Hampshire and along the Thames to "remain prepared" for more flooding on Monday and the rest of the week. | The Environment Agency has warned communities in Dorset, Oxfordshire, south Wiltshire, Hampshire and along the Thames to "remain prepared" for more flooding on Monday and the rest of the week. |
| The latest travel disruption includes: | The latest travel disruption includes: |
| Around the UK: | Around the UK: |
| The Met Office warned gusts could reach up to 70mph on Britain's west coast and the east coast of Northern Ireland. | The Met Office warned gusts could reach up to 70mph on Britain's west coast and the east coast of Northern Ireland. |
| It said the huge waves were caused by a large, deep depression in the Atlantic which was "whipping waves up" out at sea - and these were hitting the coast as a "large swell". | It said the huge waves were caused by a large, deep depression in the Atlantic which was "whipping waves up" out at sea - and these were hitting the coast as a "large swell". |
| Wave heights of 7-10m in parts of western Scotland, Wales and south-west England, and 3-7m in much of the English Channel and Irish Sea, could be generated, said the Met Office. | Wave heights of 7-10m in parts of western Scotland, Wales and south-west England, and 3-7m in much of the English Channel and Irish Sea, could be generated, said the Met Office. |
| "The public should be aware of the dangers of waves crashing onshore and over-topping shore lines and sea fronts," it said. | "The public should be aware of the dangers of waves crashing onshore and over-topping shore lines and sea fronts," it said. |
| There are currently three severe flood warnings for parts of Dorset - indicating danger to life and property - for the Lower Stour, Chiswell, on the Isle of Portland and Weymouth. | |
| There are also more than 110 other flood warnings - meaning flooding is expected and immediate action is required - in England and Wales. | |
| More than 210 flood alerts - meaning "flooding is possible, be prepared" - are also in place. | |
| In Scotland, there are 12 flood warnings, along with a further 11 flood alerts. | |
| The Met Office has yellow weather warnings in place for wind or rain for southern and western Britain. | |
| Environment Secretary Owen Paterson chaired a Cobra emergency meeting to ensure agencies are ready to respond, and made a statement to the Commons on the impact of the bad weather. | Environment Secretary Owen Paterson chaired a Cobra emergency meeting to ensure agencies are ready to respond, and made a statement to the Commons on the impact of the bad weather. |
| Mr Paterson told MPs there was "a risk of groundwater flooding in Dorset and Wiltshire for some time to come and we need to remain vigilant". | Mr Paterson told MPs there was "a risk of groundwater flooding in Dorset and Wiltshire for some time to come and we need to remain vigilant". |
| "Approximately 1,700 properties have been flooded in England so far, with Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset particularly affected, although there were also impacts in the Midlands and the North West," he said. | "Approximately 1,700 properties have been flooded in England so far, with Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset particularly affected, although there were also impacts in the Midlands and the North West," he said. |
| There had also been flooding in Northern Ireland and Scotland and 140 properties in Wales flooded, he said. | There had also been flooding in Northern Ireland and Scotland and 140 properties in Wales flooded, he said. |
| Mr Paterson said the country's electricity network operators deserved credit for reconnecting "unprecedented" number of people cut-off, but added there were "lessons to be learned about how customers are supported and informed during power cuts". | Mr Paterson said the country's electricity network operators deserved credit for reconnecting "unprecedented" number of people cut-off, but added there were "lessons to be learned about how customers are supported and informed during power cuts". |
| He again defended spending on flood defences, following criticism over the weekend, saying the government was spending "more than ever before". | He again defended spending on flood defences, following criticism over the weekend, saying the government was spending "more than ever before". |
| Rebecca Davies, pro vice-chancellor of Aberystwyth University, said about 150 students in seafront accommodation had been moved to another campus and a further 100 in private homes have also left. | Rebecca Davies, pro vice-chancellor of Aberystwyth University, said about 150 students in seafront accommodation had been moved to another campus and a further 100 in private homes have also left. |
| Exams scheduled for this week have been postponed until next week, she said, and students who have not yet returned to the university are being urged to stay away until the middle of the week. | Exams scheduled for this week have been postponed until next week, she said, and students who have not yet returned to the university are being urged to stay away until the middle of the week. |
| The village of Muchelney, on the Somerset Levels, has been cut off for about four days. | The village of Muchelney, on the Somerset Levels, has been cut off for about four days. |
| Residents David and Tracey Bradley said they were making daily trips in their canoe to fetch essential supplies. | Residents David and Tracey Bradley said they were making daily trips in their canoe to fetch essential supplies. |
| "It's pretty desolate really, especially for the elderly and the children," said Mrs Bradley. | "It's pretty desolate really, especially for the elderly and the children," said Mrs Bradley. |
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