Homes have been evacuated after a water main burst and flooded streets in north London.
Twelve fire engines and about 80 firefighters were called to Queen’s Drive in Finsbury Park after waters rose to ankle level this morning.
According to London Fire Brigade, the flooding affected a 500 sqm area and people have been moved from their homes.
Thames Water has sent specialist engineers to the scene.
Hackney Council has opened a rest center for anyone whose home is affected.
Steve Stubbs, who lives in Queen’s Drive, said: “My water didn’t work when I went to grab a drink of water so I asked my housemates whether they had any issues – one of housemates left moments before it happened , it seemed.
“Then I checked Twitter and saw one tweet about a flood on Queens Drive. I thought, ‘Oh, that’s where we are’. I opened the balcony door and saw this river flowing down the road.
“The school looks OK as it’s on slightly higher ground, but residents around the area on ground floors are having issues, I think.
” We are dry up on the fourth floor. “
His neighbor Karim Traboulsi, said: “My first thought was, ‘I probably won’t be able to make it to work’.
” Now we’re a bit worried about our elderly neighbor in the basement flat.
“(Water) isn’t yet coming through, but it’s leaking into the front garden, but hasn’t made it to the stairs or the building foundations. The water level is not rising, as far as I can tell, but it’s still flowing very quick. “
A Thames Water spokesman said: “We’re sorry to any customers affected by our burst main this morning. We’ve sent our specialist engineers to the scene as a top priority, and they will be working hard to get everything back to normal as soon as possible. “
Johnny Briggs said he had watched a young boy push his bike through the waters before being told to turn back by a firefighter.
He said: “He was really desperate to get through, and really not happy the firefighter turned him away for his own safety.
” His school shoes were drenched.
“My wife and I posted letters in the letterbox on the street, walked our dog, and by the time we came back half an hour later the road was a river.”
Matthew Christian, who lives next to Manor House Underground station, said: “I didn’t realize it was so serious and was just annoyed when I turned on the taps and there was no water but then thought I’d check Thames Water Twitter to see if there was a reported issue as the website said there was nothing in the area.
“Then when I sent a text to Thames Water I saw other people were doing the same so went out to see what was happening. It’s really shocking to see that amount of water flooding the streets with such power that it’s ripping up the road and rushing down the street into people’s front gardens. “
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