Cleanup efforts begin after major flooding in U.K.

Cleanup efforts have begun in England following major flooding, caused by intense September storms.

The Environment Agency is now focusing on pumping away flood water and clearing debris from rivers, it said.

“River levels are receding but it will take time for flood water to subside. Flood water is dirty and poses a risk to public health. The public should stay out of flood water and follow instructions from the emergency services at all times,” Pete Fox, head of flood strategy at the Environment Agency said in a statement.

British media reports have called the month’s storms the worst in 30 years.

The U.K. government also recently launched a maintenance work program in the southeast to reduce flood risk in the Dover area.

The Environment Agency releases flood warnings and alerts for the country every 15 minutes on its website. Flood warnings are still in effect, mostly for the northeast.