Muswell Hill: Homes underwater as water main pipe bursts and pavement explodes

Francesca Gillett10 October 2016

Homes in north London have been left underwater after a burst water main sent water flooding through people’s front windows.

Around eight houses on Muswell Hill Road have been submerged after the pipe burst this afternoon, hurling a car up into the air and leaving the street in chaos.

Amy Clayton was visiting her parents’ house when the pipe exploded under the family’s car which was parked outside their house.

The family dog’s barking alerted Ms Clayton and her parents to the chaos outside as the water erupted open the pavement and sent water flooding into people’s gardens.

Neighbours phoned the fire brigade at just after 2.30pm as water burst through windows and cascaded into basements.

“It looked like a river,” Ms Clayton, who lives in Clapham, told the Standard.

Submerged: Water has flooded houses on Muswell Hill Road in north London.
Amy Clayton.

“My dog was at the window barking. It was like you couldn’t see out the window for water.

“The pavement blew up through the bottom of the car and lifted it off the floor.”

Flooded: Muswell Hill Road after the water main explosion at 2.30pm.
Jeff Overs

Ms Clayton said the basement and downstairs floor of her parents’ house has been flooded with six inches of water – but neighbours’ houses are submerged by up to one foot.

Her parents’ house is all-in-one, but other neighbouring properties are divided into flats, Ms Clayton said, meaning some peoples’ whole homes are flooded.

She said: “We called our neighbour to come home, because we could hear her dog in the flat and crying.

“The fire brigade broke in next door to save the dog.”

Submerged: Muswell Hill Road had flooding of up to one foot reported.
Jeff Overs

Three fire crews were at the scene trying to pump water away and laying out sand bags.

A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said they were called at 2.39pm.

They said around eight houses are affected and parts of the pavement and road have collapsed.

A Thames Water spokesperson said: “We’re really sorry for the flooding and will do all we can to support anyone whose property has been affected.

“Our engineers are working to stop the water flowing from the pipe and a team is on the way to Muswell Hill Road to repair it.”

Haringey Council apologised and urged people to avoid the area between Archway Road and Woodland Gardens.

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