Islington flood: dramatic photos show aftermath of burst pipe which caused mayhem and damage worth millions

Emergency workers assess the damage after the water surge was finally shut off
London Fire Brigade
Saphora Smith5 December 2016

These images show the widespread destruction wrought upon Islington after a burst water main flooded people’s homes and businesses.

The images show torn-up streets, collapsed sheds and submerged gardens as fire fighters and the Met’s marine units worked to clear up the debris after this morning's flood.

Brick walls had collapsed, glass windows were broken and trees were brought down by the sheer force of the flooding which is believed to have caused damage running into millions of pounds.

Clean-up teams were pictured pumping water out of basement flats and repairing the road surface on Upper Street, a popular shopping and dining area and key route through north London.

The burst water main tore up the road surface
Jeremy Selwyn

Businesses in the popular shopping and dining district around Camden Passage were under water, and part of the A1 was closed to traffic.

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 London Fire Brigade pumped water out of basement flats
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.

A garden in Islington submerged by the floodwater
Jeremy Selwyn

Jeannette La, 34, who lives on Colebrooke Row, told the Standard: “We woke up at 5.30 and there was a waterfall of water coming down our stairs.

“There were four inches of water in the landing area at the bottom of the stairs and there will be loads more now.

"I heard the police upstairs and they were able to clear a little bit so I could at least get out. We grabbed the dog and left."

Islington flooding - in pictures

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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. "

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."

Chloe Wilkinson, who lives a ten-minute walk from the flooded streets, described “mayhem” as emergency services rushed to warn sleeping residents.

A distraught woman cries after learning her basement flat was totally flooded
Jeremy Selwyn

The 31-year-old, who works in PR for Barclaycard, told the Standard: “I was walking to the gym when I got to Colebrook Row, which was all blocked off.

“Police were knocking on people’s doors to wake them up and alert them to what was going on.

“There were emergency services everywhere and there must be about a foot of water at least.”

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.

This basement flat was flooded until water poured from the windows
Jeremy Selwyn

"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.

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.

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