THE UK:More than 350,000 people are facing days without fresh water supplies and a clean-up operation lasting months as devastating floods this weekend left communities cut off across central and southern England.
Last night, waters were still rising as the rivers Severn and Thames threatened to burst their banks in Gloucester and Oxford, bringing more chaos to a region from which hundreds have been evacuated after downpours began on Friday.
Today, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn will make an emergency statement to the House of Commons, and Gordon Brown's first monthly press conference as prime minister is certain to be dominated by growing criticism about the speed of the response to the latest flooding.
More people were airlifted to safety in one of the RAF's biggest peacetime operations and the army distributed aid to thousands cut off by rising water in Upton-upon-Severn in Worcestershire and Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire.
Eight severe flood warnings were in place overnight, including in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and parts of London, and experts predict a second peak in water levels tonight.
The government defended its handling of the crisis, but chief executive of the Environment Agency Lady Young warned it will cost £1 billion (€1.49 billion) a year to prevent further flooding.
About 350,000 residents of Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury could be without clean water for the next 72 hours after a treatment plant was flooded. Meanwhile, the Red Cross was called in to help evacuate 20 patients from Tewkesbury hospital.
Oxford and Gloucester were braced for further flooding from the Thames and the Severn. In Gloucester, water levels were 10.4m (34ft), just 12 inches below flood defences.
The government was facing intense criticism for being unprepared for the floods, which led to more than 2,000 people spending the night in emergency shelters after almost two months of rain fell in one day on Friday. Forecasters predicted the downpour on Wednesday.
The Opposition Conservative leader, David Cameron, whose Witney constituency in Oxfordshire is badly affected, said serious questions needed to be asked about Britain's flood defence systems. "People want answers," he said.
The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Menzies Campbell, said: "I think there'll be questions about the degree of preparedness."
Today, the rain could move further south and up to an inch is likely to fall on areas around the Thames.People began panic-buying water in Gloucestershire after a treatment plant in Tewkesbury was evacuated. The town is cut off, with police using six boats to ferry people in and out.
The army, RAF, RNLI and RSPCA have sent teams to help rescue those cut off, and more than 100 people were airlifted to safety.