Life rafts on London streets and thousands without water after pipes BURST during -5C freeze turning ‘roads into rivers’
ROADS have turned into rivers in London after subzero temperatures caused a mains pipe to burst resulting in 3ft floods and thousands being left without water.
Distressed Camden residents watched in horror before being evacuated as homes on their street were flooded by fast flowing water.
In videos posted by an eyewitness, he can be heard describing the event: “I think there’s someone trapped over there, pregnant female, oh that’s why they have the rescue boat.
“They just shouted ‘pregnant female.'”
Footage showed three emergency service workers, dressed in orange high-vis suits, with a small emergency dingy.
“Look how deep it is, that window is going to burst soon,” the witness claimed.
“That’s sad man, the whole house is gone,” he added.
The London Fire Brigade said: “Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were called to Belsize Road in Camden at 2:50am on Saturday morning.
“A 42-inch water main burst, causing flooding to a depth of half a metre across an area of around 800 metres.”
The fire brigade said multiple homes have been flooded and firefighters had to lead around 20 residents to safety.
One resident told Ham&High news: “The fire brigade have been amazing – rescue-boated a pregnant lady.
“I couldn’t tell if the pregnant lady actually got into the boat or not in the end, but they were excellent in getting to her aid.
“No casualties – the ones opposite were asleep in the basement flats but woke up whilst it was filling, thankfully.”
LFB deputy assistant commissioner Andy Williams said from the scene: “There are significant road closures in place and we’re asking people to avoid the area where possible.
“The water authority are working to isolate the burst water main and firefighters are expected to remain on scene for a number of hours.
“Crews are using flood barriers and a high volume pumping unit to divert flood water.
“A rest centre has been set up for affected residents at Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre.”
Thames Water said local houses in north-west London, in the postcodes of NW2, NW6, NW8 and NW10, could be experiencing no or low water pressure as a result of the burst main.
A Thames Water spokesman said: “We’re working with the local emergency services to make sure all residents are safe as a priority, whilst our engineers continue to shut off the pipe valves in the surrounding area.
“If your home has been flooded, we’re so sorry, we know this must be very distressing.
“Our support teams are on their way to help customers experiencing low pressure or no water.”
This comes after Brits were issued danger to life warnings for snow and ice today.
The warning affects the midlands, while the rest of the UK has been put under yellow alert by the Met Office.
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have also issued a level three cold weather alert as the cold snap could “increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services”.
Met Office deputy chief forecaster Helen Caughey said: “The northerly airflow and cold conditions which have dominated our weather patterns over the last 10 days will start to lose ground to a push of mild air from the south-west on Sunday.
“As the mild air meets the cold air currently in situ over the UK there will be a transient spell of snow, potentially to low levels, especially in the north.
“Add to this the risk of rain falling on to frozen surfaces, and strong winds over upland areas of northern Britain, bringing blizzard conditions, and this could be a day to avoid travelling in some areas, although the snow should turn to rain later.
“There is also a brief risk of a period of freezing rain most likely to impact areas from the Pennines northwards, which could result in some power interruptions.”