Burst Water Main Floods Streets in Islington Forcing Emergency Response

A burst water main has caused significant flooding in Islington, leaving roads underwater and prompting a large scale emergency response in north London.

The 30 inch pipe ruptured between Caledonian Road and Twyford Street, with floodwater spreading towards the junction of Thornhill Bridge Wharf and Caledonian Road. Emergency services were alerted shortly before 14:45 GMT, as water began rapidly covering parts of the carriageway and surrounding areas.

London Fire Brigade deployed six fire engines and around 40 firefighters to the scene, supported by specialist teams equipped with inflatable boats, high capacity pumps and flood response kits. Crews worked for several hours to manage rising water levels and ensure public safety. The brigade confirmed its response concluded shortly after 18:40 GMT.

Video footage shared locally showed water surging along the street and pooling near residential properties, while traffic was diverted away from the affected stretch. Drivers have been urged to avoid the area while recovery operations continue.

Thames Water said its engineers were on site shortly after 13:45 and managed to isolate the damaged section of pipe. According to the utility company, this action stabilised the wider network and restored supply to much of the surrounding area.

However, some residents in N1, N7, WC1X and EC1R postcodes may continue to experience low water pressure or intermittent supply as further work is carried out. Thames Water said it is gradually returning service to remaining customers before assessing the damaged infrastructure to plan permanent repairs.

A respite centre has been established at Islington Tennis Centre for residents impacted by the flooding. Council staff are working alongside emergency services to assist those who have been temporarily displaced or affected by water entering homes and businesses.

Islington Council leader Una O Halloran expressed concern for those impacted, stating that residents and local businesses should not have to endure such disruption. She called on Thames Water to ensure swift management of the situation and to support affected customers in returning to their properties safely.

Thames Water confirmed that customer representatives and loss adjusters are being sent to the area to support households dealing with flood damage. The company issued an apology to those affected and said teams would remain on site as repairs are organised.

The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of ageing water infrastructure in parts of London, where burst mains can quickly disrupt daily life. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as clean up efforts progress and full water service is restored.