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英國遭受60年來最嚴重洪災
英國首相布朗視察了洪災最嚴重地區。目前仍有數以千計的居民被困。
在英格蘭中部和西部地區，大片地區仍然被洪水淹沒，預計今天還會有更多降雨。
布朗乘坐直升飛機視察了被洪水淹沒的格羅斯特郡，然後會晤了當地負責救災的官員。
格羅斯特郡、沃斯特郡和牛津郡的鄉村地區受災最嚴重，當地已經發出9個洪災警報。
視察結束後，布朗在每月例行記者會上表示，這次洪災與氣候變暖有關係，並證實額外撥款用於防災救災。他還表示將對進行檢討，以便應付未來的洪水問題。
他說："像其他發達國家一樣，我們也正在面對氣候變化問題。"
他指出，英國依賴的是"19世紀結構"，排水系統的問題也需要解決。
人們現在擔心，災情有可能進一步惡化。
氣象預報當局預計周一（23日）英格蘭南部地區還會有更多降雨。環境大臣希拉裡﹒本對BBC說，緊急狀況還沒有結束。
官員們說，英國的兩條最長的河流泰晤士河和塞文河有可能決堤，對居民和商業造成更大混亂。
在泰晤士河畔的大學城牛津，由於出現大面積洪水，幾十所學校關閉，有1500人已經被疏散到當地足球場。
據報道，格羅斯特郡Tewkesbury市自來水廠被水淹後關閉，目前有15萬個住宅沒有飲水。
由於得不到供水，導致當地居民搶購瓶裝水。
在格羅斯特郡和赫裡福德郡，由於發電廠遭洪水關閉，導致48000個住宅沒有電力供應。
災區的鐵路交通陷入癱瘓狀態，許多道路已經無法通行。
反對黨批評政府在救災方面措施不力。環境大臣希拉裡﹒本表示，這次空前的降雨和洪災是人們60年來所經最嚴重的一次。
英國保險業聯合會預測，這次災害的賠償金額將超過20億英鎊（41億美元，29億歐元）。
英國報摘
今天所有報紙頭版都是關於英國水災的消息。
好幾份報紙都在頭版刊登了英格蘭中部小鎮Tewkesbury著名教堂被大水圍困的相片。
《每日電訊報》 的標題警告說：（災情）可能會更加嚴重。
報道說，英國政府的城市規劃顧問警告說，首相布朗打算在英格蘭東南部興建300萬座房子的計劃，可能會引發更多的水災。
當局在星期天晚上發出了56個水災警報，英國最長的河流賽文河水位已經上漲到幾乎溢出。
政府在處理災情上的手法受到各方批評，在野保守黨更加指責政府的一些政策令情況雪上加霜。
《衛報》 報道說，嚴重水災導致大混亂，超過35萬人沒有清潔水使用。
文章說，英格蘭中部和南部很多居民被大水切斷與外界連接的道路，災後清理工作將耗時幾個月。
部分地區星期天晚上的水位繼續上升，牛津和格羅斯特的泰晤士河和賽文河可能會決堤，導致當地情況更加混亂。
皇家空軍出動飛機將更多的居民緊急疏散，這是空軍和平時期開展的最大規模救援行動之一，陸軍則向受圍困的民眾派發援助物資。
政府否認在事件上做的不夠好，當局估計，需要花10億英鎊防範未來的水災，而隨著氣候變化，以後可能會出現更嚴重的情況。
《泰晤士報》 報道說：災區出現搶劫、搶購必需品以及缺乏食品和清潔水的情況。
該報披露，由於無法獲得有關方面保證支付開銷，國防部不願意提供貨車和司機協助運送睡袋、食品等救災物資給受大水圍困的居民。
在部分受災嚴重的地區，一些房屋已經好幾天沒有食水供應，超市的瓶裝水和食物也幾乎被搶購一空。
《獨立報》 報道說，在這次發大水後，科學家證實：全球氣候變化與英國不斷增加的大雨有關。
科學研究報告指出，人為的氣候變暖導致北半球暴雨氣候日增。
報道說，其實人們早就預料到這種結果，但一直沒有證據證明。
《每日鏡報》 的頭版相片也是被大水包圍的Tewkesbury教堂，但標題則是："乾旱！"
內頁的標題是：雖然到處都是水，可是沒有一滴可以喝。
報道說，由於災情緊急，皇家愛護動物協會除了忙於拯救動物之外，連人也一起救。
《每日郵報》 頭版的標題與《每日鏡報》內頁的標題完全一樣。
《每日郵報》也突出強調災區食水和食品告急的情況。
《每日快報》 引述環境部門警告說，由於大雨，在未來四天，每秒將有9萬加侖的水湧入河流，水位還會上漲。
當局估計，這次水災造成的損失起碼達到20億英鎊，但是實際損失可能更高。
《太陽報》 在頭版報道說，著名汽車電視節目主持人Richard Hammond的汽車也被大水圍困，他需要拋棄其座駕，跑到16英里外的女兒家避難。
《金融時報》 在頭版刊登了Tewkesbury教堂被大水圍困的相片。
不過該報的頭條新聞是，政府將採取"胡蘿蔔加大棒"的政策，迫使地方政府和私營企業應付英國的房屋短缺危機。
報道說，中央政府將敦促地方政府撥出更多的土地興建房子，並且鼓勵私營企業建房屋。
英國各大報章繼續頭版報道英格蘭中部地區水災﹔另一則頭版新聞是中國國家開發銀行參股英國巴克萊銀行以支持其收購荷蘭銀行。
英格蘭中部的格羅斯特郡、沃斯特郡和牛津郡的鄉村地區遭受嚴重洪災，是英國六十年來最嚴重的。
各大報章紛紛指出英國政府沒有重視防洪措施不足的警告而及時採取行動。
《衛報》報道，英國政府被認為忽視有關維修英國排洪系統的呼籲。
報道說，政府本身的顧問在三年前已發出警告說必須徹底檢修防洪及排水系統。據瞭解，英國政府的內部報告分別在2004年7月及2005年建議全面加強防洪措施。
英國環境大臣已宣佈就這次水災進行獨立檢討。
《獨立報》報道引述英國環境部說，這一次水災令人想起在1947年由連場暴雨引起的水災，但這一次災情更為嚴重。
報道說，氣象部門預測未來數天繼續有暴雨，政府官員將面對更大的公眾壓力。
《泰晤士報》頭版標題是"1萬個家庭被水淹、5萬戶斷電、15萬戶斷水"。
該報表示，他們獲悉供應水、電、煤氣的公司在七年前已提醒政府需要加強防洪系統。
格羅斯特郡Tewkesbury市自來水廠被水淹後關閉，目前有15萬個住宅沒有飲水。 發電廠遭洪水關閉，導致48000個住宅沒有電力供應。
《每日電訊報》報道，在英格蘭中部和西部的人道危機正在加劇，超過100萬人受到影響。
《國際先驅論壇報》除了報道英格蘭中部洪災導致的斷電、斷水，還指出在亞洲的水災造成更嚴重的問題。
報道說，印度今年的季風暴雨已導致750人死亡，800萬人失去家園。中國報道水災導致約400人死亡，300萬無家可歸。
巴基斯坦卡拉奇市在6月23日的暴風使200多人喪生。
美國西南部的情況未及以上地方嚴重，但也構成一些影響。
 |  Flood water threatens the town of Upton-upon-Severn  |
Enlarge ImageUp to 350,000 people in Gloucestershire will be left without water within the next 15 hours, as the River Severn and the Thames threaten to overflow.
The Environment Agency said water levels in that county have exceeded those of devastating floods in 1947.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would set up a review of the crisis.
Mr Brown flew by helicopter over Gloucestershire, the worst-affected county, before heading to the police headquarters where the emergency response is being co-ordinated.
He said the government would set up a review focusing on drainage and how Britain could protect itself against further flooding.
Extra funding would also be given to local authorities to help pay for essential emergency work in the aftermath of the crisis, he said.
The Environment Agency said water levels on the River Severn and Thames could reach a "critical" level in some areas.
Severe flood warnings are in place for the Midlands, Oxfordshire and Bedfordshire.
A spokesman for the agency said the River Severn and the Thames would continue to swell until Tuesday and that levels on both rivers could increase beyond those of 60 years ago.
In March 1947, millions of pounds of damage was caused in the south of England, the Midlands, East Anglia and North Yorkshire when many of the country's rivers burst their banks.
Other main developments include:
- Environment Agency chief executive Baroness Young told the BBC that about £1bn a year was needed to improve flood defences.
- Environment Secretary Hilary Benn defended the government's flood response, saying there are lessons to be learned but denying flood defences had not been maintained properly.
- Meanwhile, the Association of British Insurers has said the total bill for the June and July floods could reach £2bn.
- Sir John Harman, the chairman of the Environment Agency, warned summer floods could become more frequent in the future.
- The RAF said it is carrying out its biggest ever peacetime operation, with six Sea King helicopters rescuing up to 120 people.
Severn Trent Water said 150,000 homes in Gloucestershire were without water after a treatment works was flooded.
But it warned all residents in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury - an estimated 350,000 people - they would lose their supply within the next 15 hours.
The situation is expected to last several days, it said.
People were being urged not to panic buy and to do all they could to conserve water.
No electricity
Peter Bungard from Gloucestershire County Council told BBC Five Live bottled water was being provided and a number of water bowsers being deployed to the area, he said.
Elsewhere in Gloucestershire, 15,000 homes were left without power after a major electricity substation was turned off because of the rising water.
A spokesman for the Central Networks Castlemeads substation said areas of Gloucester, parts of Cheltenham and some homes across the county border in Herefordshire had been affected.
The county council has appealed to builders merchants to supply "dumpy bags" - giant sandbags - to help the operation.
Electricity supplier Central Networks has advised customers to ring 0800 328 1111 to report loss of supply.
BBC Radio Gloucestershire visited residents in Tewkesbury, one of the worst affected areas of Gloucestershire, and described a jovial mood among those cut off by flood waters.
One resident from a block of flats whose car park was covered in water said people were "laughing" and taking events in their stride.
We must now look at proper regional controls and answers for surface water problems 
Over the border, parts of Worcestershire were under 6ft of water and the Army has been deployed to help emergency services provide supplies to people in Upton-upon-Severn.
The Bishop of Worcester, Dr Peter Selby, said: "It is rare for a disaster of this kind to affect so much of the country at once, and my prayers are with everyone in the affected places at this difficult time."
Warwickshire and Berkshire have also been badly affected and severe warnings remain in place for Oxfordshire.
Residents at risk of flooding in Oxford have been told to leave their homes as water levels are expected to rise.
Some homes in Oxford, Abingdon, Kidlington and Bladon have already been flooded and conditions are expected to deteriorate.
'Critical' situation
Meanwhile, the government is expected to announce on Monday that it is rejecting calls to stop building houses on flood plains, despite the recent extensive flooding.
A draft of the Housing Green Paper, which was obtained by the BBC, says it is "not realistic" to rule out new developments in areas at risk of flooding.
The Environment Agency has issued nine severe flood warnings and says the situation is "critical".
There are five in the Midlands for the River Avon and River Severn between Evesham, Tewkesbury and Gloucester.
Three severe flood warnings are in place for Oxfordshire, from Eynsham to Abingdon, and one has been issued for River Great Ouse from Turvey to Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire.
BBC forecaster Chris Fawkes said the heaviest rain was due to fall in southern England in an area between the Isle of Wight and Suffolk, where an inch of rain could fall on Monday.
He also said Gloucestershire and Worcestershire could see 10 or 15 millimetres of rainfall.
Environment Agency floodline: 0845 988 1188
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