Flood alerts issued for North Sea tidal surge

LONDON (Reuters) - Large parts of the Norfolk and Kent coasts are at risk of severe flooding from a tidal surge in the North Sea, the government and environment agencies warned on Thursday.

Weather experts invoked images of the major floods of 1953 that hit eastern England and the Netherlands, and said the Dutch and German coasts were again also at high risk from the storm surge coupled with spring tides and low pressure.

"A tidal surge of up to three metres is making its way down the North Sea which could coincide with high tides," Environment Secretary Hilary Benn told the House of Commons.

A special COBRA Cabinet Office meeting was held by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to coordinate the emergency response.

"COBRA has just met. All the arrangements that can be put in place are being put in place," John Healey, minister of state for local communities, told reporters as he emerged from the meeting.

"COBRA will be on full alert throughout the night, and the prime minister will be keeping in close touch and keeping on top of things," he added.

The Environment Agency issued seven severe flood warnings around Great Yarmouth in East Anglia for the surge which is expected to peak at between around 7 a.m. on Friday.

It said 8,000 properties in Great Yarmouth and 1,800 in Lowestoft were at risk on its worst case forecast.

The Thames Barrier would be closed from 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, the agency said.