More than 100 people had to flee from their homes before dawn this morning when a huge water main split open on one of London’s busiest streets.
The 36 inch wide pipe burst under Upper Street in Islington at around 4am sending thousands of gallons of water cascading into homes and businesses, causing millions of pounds worth of damage.
The flood, one of the worst in London in recent years, closed a 500 long metre stretch of the A1 between Angel Tube station and Islington Green. bringing transport chaos to north London at the height of the rush hour.
Dramatic images shared on social media showed scenes “like a disaster movie” with torrents of water flowing into the upmarket antique shopping and dining district around Camden Passage.
The flooding also hit Charlton Place, Devonia Road and Colebrooke Row, where houses sell for £2.5 million, with residents of around 50 homes sent to nearby pub the Steam Passage Tavern as their homes rapidly filled with up to two metres of water.
Home owners Stuart Rock and his wife Jo Willett were woken in the early hours by a bang at the door from London Fire Brigade.
The couple discovered water pouring into the basement flooding their kitchen and sitting room. Stuart, 56, and Jo, 55, managed to save a sofa and a TV before their kitchen and living room was entirely submerged.
The couple live on Devonia Road and water levels of five feet have ruined the bottom floor of their townhouse.
Stuart said: “The worst moment so far today was the terrible noise or the back doors caving in - whoosh- and you know that’s it.”
He said: “It’s just monstrous - one of those times you think ‘well, what are we going to do’? It’s like a classic disaster movie. Basically everything you need to run a house has gone. It’s going to take forever to put it right again.”
Resident Johanna Maccabe, a lawyer, said: “I’m very shocked, I’ve never in my life seen anything like it.
"I was going to go and get my coffee from a cafe down the road but I can’t get there. I’m wondering if it will reach my house.”
Analyst Polly Brown, 35, who lives in number 11 Devonia Road said she saw the devastation unfold at the flat below.
She said: “I saw the garden wall collapse before my eyes. It was at least a ten foot wall.
“The water flooded in and broke through the glass and straight into the flat after that. All their stuff will be ruined. The firemen tried to get in and stop it in time but they couldn’t. “I feel so sorry for them and their tenants, for this to happen just before Christmas is a disaster.”
It is feared that traders‘ stock will have been damaged beyond repair as they filled their shops for the key Christmas trading period.
Ladieswear shop Victoria Beau in Camden Passage, owned by Emma Holland, 26, had only been been for 18 months when the disaster struck this morning.
Ms Holland said: “I’m devastated. We got here 7.30am - we had seen on a tweet the street was flooded. My shop is inaccessible. All the water is running in.
“I have no idea how much it will cost us. We won’t be open today or the rest of the week probably. We’re going to have to assess the damage when the water goes.
“We’re quite fortunate because most of these are basement houses so will be flooded but ours doesn’t have a basement.
“The Downstairs cafe next door to us will be absolutely full of water.”
She added: “This is a street massively reliant on Christmas footfall, a small business community and the Christmas stock, so it needs to be sorted out quickly or it will have a huge impact.
“We will be up and running as soon as we can.”
Carl Hufton, 37, manager of the Steam Passage Tavern, was the first to spot the flooding before opening his pub to all those flooded out.
He said: “ I have deliveries at 5am, so get here to do stock early. It was just after 4am I first saw the water. I thought it was light shimmering and then saw water rushing out and called fire brigade.
“I thought to open my doors and welcome people in and give teas and coffees and get people warm. We will look after them throughout the day, as long as they need.
“there have been around 50 people here. It was busiest around 6am, when everyone got evacuated. People were drenched - someone’s socks are still on the radiator.
“I just think there is a good community spirit here. It’s a friendly area and I’m just doing my bit. I’d like to think if I was flooded someone would help me out.”
A Thames Water spokeswoman said: “We’re really sorry to everyone affected by our burst pipe. We’ve stopped the flow of water and are now planning how best to repair it with as little disruption as possible.
"We don’t except water supplies to be affected by this work. Our loss adjusters are on their way to the area to support those affected by the flooding with insurance claims and making arrangements for alternative accommodation.
"We’ll do all we can to get the area back to normal as soon as possible.”
The 36 inch “transmission” main is one of the biggest in the entire Thames Water network.
A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said it was impossible to estimate how many homes will be damaged because the spread of the flow is ‘such a massive area’.
The spokesperson said: “Six fire engines and three fire rescue units have been deployed.
“The water has been isolated and has dissipated. Firefighters are pumping the water into a nearby water main.
“At the height of incident the water was at a depth of two metres in the basements of properties on Charlton Place.
“Multiple properties were affected and around 100 people have been evacuated. Police are using the The Steam Tavern as a refuge for residents.
“Upper Street is currently closed and motorists are advised to avoid the area.
“The Brigade has a range of equipment which can be used to help rescue people trapped by flood water, pump water away and protect properties.
“Some of the Brigade’s fire rescue units are equipped with water rescue equipment such as inflatable rescue boats. “
