For more than a month now, parts of the Somerset Levels -- low-lying plains in southwestern England where locals are accustomed to a certain amount of flooding -- have been underwater. Villages have become islands, residents have been cut off from each other, and farm fields are now at the bottom of shallow lakes. Many Somerset residents blame not only heavy rainfall, but the government's failure to dredge rivers and mount a rapid response. Gathered here are recent images from the Somerset Levels, as they expect even more wet weather in the coming days.
Flooding in Southwest England
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Workers continue to build flood defenses around the home of Sam Notaro in the flooded village of Moorland on the Somerset Levels on February 10, 2014 in Somerset, England. Thousands of acres of the Somerset Levels have been under water for weeks, yet flood levels are still rising and worryingly, more rain is forecast for later this week. #
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Workers from Pontoonworks build a pontoon bridge along the road leading to the village of Muchelney to help villagers board a boat which has been used for transport along flooded roads on January 24, 2014. #
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A cyclist crosses a bridge where locals have put up a sign "Stop the Flooding - Dredge the Rivers" on the River Parrett, at Barrow Mump, in Somerset, on February 2, 2014. Some residents blame the flooding on government budget cuts and environmental bureaucracy. Others point to climate change. Even plump, endangered water voles are the target of ire. #
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A graveyard sits underwater in the village of Moorland, on February 7, 2014. Many areas of the Somerset Levels have been underwater for over a month in the wettest January in Britain on record. Severe weather warnings for rain and gale force winds have been issued for the weekend. #
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The sun sets over flooded fields surrounding the River Tone that has burst its banks on the Somerset Levels, viewed from Windmill Hill, in Stoke-St-Gregory, on Febuary 2, 2014. #
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Devon and Somerset Fire and rescue service evacuate 16 Basset Hound dogs and a similar number of cats near flood waters on a digger in Burrowbridge on February 9, 2014. #
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A combination photo shows an angry resident hitting a vehicle he claims was driving too fast through floodwaters, in the village of Thorney on the Somerset Levels, on January 31, 2014. #
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Leader of UKIP Nigel Farage wades in water as he visits a flooded property at Burrowbridge on the Somerset Levels, on February 9, 2014. The party leader's visit to flood stricken area, comes as weather forecasters warn of more wet and windy weather to come. #
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Farmer Roger Forgan and his partner Linda Maudsley use a boat to cross farm land to get from their farm (pictured behind) which has been cut off by flood waters near the village of Muchelney on January 30, 2014. #
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Flood water continues to cover farmland close to James Winslade's West Yeo Farm and Newhouse Farm in Moorland on the Somerset Levels, on February 10, 2014. Thousands of acres of the Somerset Levels have been under water for weeks, yet flood levels are still rising and worryingly, more rain is forecast for later this week. #
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
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