Soggy Britain struggles with flood aftermath

ENGLAND: Fears of flooding for communities along the River Thames eased on thursday  as water levels stabilised, but thousands of residents struggling to clean up in the hardest-hit areas remained without potable water.

In Tewkesbury, one of the worst-hit areas, two people died after trying to clean up a rugby club after flooding, fire officials in Gloucestershire said.

It was believed they were using a gas-powered pump, "and were possibly overcome by fumes from the pump," a news release said.

Water levels started to fall in flood-hit Oxford, though they remain high. In Reading, downstream from the university town and about 45 miles west of London, the situation was similar.

"Although they remain high, they're expected to stay at that level, and drop after 48 hours," a spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said, on condition of anonymity in line with government policy.

Windsor, where Windsor Castle stands high above the Thames, would likely avoid flooding because of substantial flood defenses. London was also expected to escape.

Severn Trent Water is trying to restore service to about 10,000 homes in the county. The water will be for washing and flushing toilets, the company said, and will not be suitable for drinking.

In all, about 350,000 people were left without water after flooding, which began last week.

Government officials said they would consider suspending tax collection for people affected by the flooding.