Floodwaters rise in England

LONDON: Around 140 homes were evacuated in southwest England  Friday as floodwaters rose, while the head of a government agency was set to face a hostile reception on his first visit to the region.
Areas flooded for five weeks were set to endure more misery as heavy rain was forecast to fall on parts of Britain during the day.
Environment Agency chief Chris Smith was to visit one of the worst-hit areas, the Somerset Levels, in southwest England, where many residents say his organisation’s response has been ineffective and has led to “devastation”.
Royal Marines were sent into flooded areas for the first time on Thursday and helped to evacuate 140 properties in the village of Moorland, after local flood defences were breached following another night of heavy rain, the Ministry of Defence said.
High waves that have battered the coast of the southwest counties of Dorset, Devon and Cornwall were expected to be whipped up again at the weekend.