Caledonian Road turned into river after 30in water main burst as crews rush to contain flooding
A ruptured 30in water main has sent large volumes of water into the streets around caledonian road, leaving a major thoroughfare blocked and shops and vehicles affected in Islington. Emergency services and Thames Water say urgent action to isolate the damaged pipe has stabilised the wider network, but local supply and traffic disruption remain while repairs are planned.
Caledonian Road and Twyford Street flooded to Thornhill Bridge Wharf junction
The burst pipe forced water onto roads between Caledonian Road and Twyford Street and continued as far as the junction of Thornhill Bridge Wharf and Caledonian Road in Islington. The volume of water was large enough to turn the major road into what witnesses described as a river, blocking the carriageway and affecting nearby shops and parked vehicles.
Thames Water isolation, supply restoration and next steps
Thames Water sent engineers to the scene shortly after 13: 45 GMT and isolated the damaged section of the 30in (76cm) main. That isolation has stabilised the wider network and restored water supply to the broader area,. Work is continuing to gradually return supply to remaining customers, after which crews will access the damaged pipe to plan necessary repairs.
The water firm warned that some households in the N1, N7, WC1X and EC1R postcodes may still experience low pressure or intermittent supply while engineers complete the work. Thames Water issued an apology to affected residents and confirmed that customer representatives and loss adjusters were en route to assist those impacted by flooding.
London Fire Brigade mobilises six engines, specialist units and around 40 firefighters
The London Fire Brigade mobilised a substantial response. Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters, together with specialist teams, were called to the scene at about 14: 45 GMT. Two specialist fire and rescue units equipped with inflatable boats, pumping equipment and flood kits were among the resources deployed to manage flooding and protect properties.
Impact on residents, postcodes and traffic
Drivers were urged to avoid the area as standing and flowing water made the road impassable in places. The immediate effect has been severe disruption to traffic and local businesses, with shops and vehicles reported to be affected by the surge. In addition to the water supply issues in N1, N7, WC1X and EC1R, households could face intermittent pressure until gradual restoration is complete.
Islington Council response and respite centre at Islington Tennis Centre
Islington Council staff have been supporting emergency services on the ground. A respite centre was established at Islington Tennis Centre to assist residents displaced or otherwise affected by flooding. Una O'Halloran, leader of Islington Council, expressed sympathy for those impacted and called on Thames Water to manage the situation and help get residents and businesses back into their properties as quickly as possible.
What makes this notable is the combination of a large-diameter main failure and the speed with which both emergency responders and the water company had to act; isolating the pipe within an hour or so limited wider supply loss but left concentrated disruption along a key local corridor. The immediate cause — the burst 30in pipe — directly produced the flood that forced emergency deployment, road closures and the setting up of local support arrangements.
Thames Water said it would continue on-site work to return supply to all customers and then examine the damaged section to plan repairs. For now, emergency crews remain in place and residents are being assisted through the respite centre and by customer representatives and loss adjusters who are on their way to the scene.
