Brown water floods London streets after water main bursts ‘completely destroying’ businesses

Londoners are worried they have lost their livelihoods after two meters of water flooded a busy road.

A river of brown water rushed through Caledonian Road, Islington, after a 30-inch water main burst.

Many residents have been left without access to running water, with some business owners also fearing they have lost their jobs.

Zackaria from Zac’s Tailoring told Metro: ‘It’s like a river running through, there is two meters of water currently in my shop. My business is gone, I have been here for 17 years.

‘There’s no way I can open. I am waiting for emergency services to arrive to tell me what to do, but I will just have to close.’

He described the moment the water started rushing through the street, saying ‘within two minutes’ his shop was flooded.

‘It started about an hour and a half ago,’ he said. ‘I was talking to a customer and all of a sudden this water was coming trickling through the door.’

He added: ‘I turned and said “what is all this water”, and soon enough it covered the front and back of my shop, it is completely damaged.’

Thames Water said: ‘We apologize to those who are currently being affected by a burst water main on Caledonian Road, N1.

‘Our teams are on the way to stop the flow of water and then carry out the repair as quickly and safely as they can.’

Cllr Una O’Halloran, Leader of Islington Council, said: ‘My heart goes out to the residents, businesses, and organisations that have been impacted by this afternoon’s flooding on Caledonian Road.

‘We’re working with the emergency services to support those that are affected, and to ensure that those that have had to evacuate can return home as quickly as possible.

‘Local people simply shouldn’t have to face this level of disruption – we’re doing all we can to resolve this, but we’re calling on Thames Water to manage the situation, and help get our residents and businesses back into their properties as quickly as possible.’

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