Engineers prepare emergency fix of burst water main

Engineers are preparing to carry out an emergency repair on a large water main that burst in north London, leaving a busy road under fast-moving flood water.

Some properties on Caledonian Road, Islington, were flooded as water rushed along the street on Tuesday afternoon. Many lost their water supply and the electricity supply was cut off for safety reasons.

Thames Water has apologised and said a "large split" in a pipe had been discovered in a water main, along with a "significant underground void".

Part of the road remains closed as water is being pumped away form the area, so that work can begin the fix the main, the firm has said.

The flooding affected a 350m stretch of Caledonian Road from the junction with Twyford Street to the junction of Thornhill Bridge Wharf.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) was called to the scene and rescued some 50 people as well as three dogs.

Firefighters installed flood barriers and distributed sandbags to block water from neighbouring properties.

The LFB told the BBC some basements along the road were flooded with 6ft (1.8m) of water.

Josef Fiala, an employee at Howdens kitchen showroom on Caledonian Road, said the moment water began rushing into the store was "terrifying".

"It happened so fast. Within a minute, the water rose to pretty much above my knees. It was scary, I'm not going to lie.

"People were panicking and they didn't know what was going on."

Fiala told BBC London he has not been able to access the shop on Wednesday as the electricity supply had been disconnected.

Thames Water said the power supply was cut off for safety reasons following the flooding.

According to UK Power Networks, 173 properties remain without power.

A spokesperson for Thames Water said: "All customers should have their water supplied restored although they may experience some intermittent loss of pressure whilst we carry out the repair, which will be complex,"a spokesperson for the firm said.

"Our teams worked overnight and made good progress with the excavation to reach the damaged pipe.

"We understand how disruptive this situation is and sincerely appreciate your patience."

Customer service representatives and loss adjustors are at the scene talking to those affected, Thames Water said.

A customer support van has been set up as a support hub outside All Saints Church on Caledonian Road.

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