‘Like a sea out there’: flooded Somerset residents wonder how water can be managed

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Steven MorrisJanuary 28, 2026 at 04:40 PM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Recent flooding in Somerset, England, caused by Storm Chandra has impacted approximately 50 households, prompting the council to declare a major incident. Residents in Taunton and Ilminster experienced floodwaters entering their homes, with one family forced into emergency accommodation. The flooding in Taunton is suspected to have been caused by obstructed drains, while Ilminster residents are accustomed to annual flooding from multiple sources. With another Met Office yellow warning for rain in effect, there are concerns that more homes and businesses could be affected. Some residents are taking preventative measures, but question the long-term management of water in the region given climate change.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Jim Wileman ×230% Black Brook 40% Ilminster 40% Met Office 50% Taunton 50% Somerset council 60% Faye Wade ×260% UK 60% Storm Chandra 70% Somerset 70% Allison Bushby ×370% James Wade ×380%

Keywords

flooding 100% somerset 80% drains 70% emergency accommodation 60% climate change 60% major incident 50% storm 50% met office 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.40

Source Transparency

Source

The Guardian - World News

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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flooding somerset drains emergency accommodation climate change major incident storm met office

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