Thousands are left without water and dozens are evacuated as burst water main floods London street when Big Thaw kicks in

• Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters called to Belsize Road in Camden
• Flood happened at 2:50am this morning after 42-inch water main burst
• Further 15-inch water main also burst and around 100 properties were affected  
• Fire brigade said they had to lead around 25 endangered residents to safety 
• One resident said she woke up to scenes ‘like the River Thames’ outside home 

Thousands have been left without water while dozens were evacuated after a burst water main flooded a London street as Big Thaw kicks in. 

Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were called to Belsize Road in Camden at 2:50am this morning, said London Fire Brigade, after a 42-inch water main burst causing flooding of half a metre across an area of around 800 metres.

The fire service said the main had been isolated this afternoon, but a further 15-inch water main had also burst and around 100 properties have been affected by floodwater.

The fire brigade said multiple homes have been flooded and firefighters had to lead around 25 residents to safety.

A video shows the fire brigade attending the scene while water gushes down the road.  

Thousands have been left without water and dozens were evacuated after a burst water main flooded Belsize Road in Camden at 2:50am this morning

Meanwhile, footage shared on social media shows emergency services using small boats and helping residents wrapped in blankets to safety.

Cody Dolcy-Grant, 27, who lives in Hilgrove Road at the end of Belsize Road, said she woke up to scenes ‘like the River Thames’ outside her home.

‘I wasn’t aware of the situation until 7am when I went to the toilet, realised the toilet wasn’t flushing and no water was coming out of the taps,’ said Ms Dolcy-Grant who is unemployed due to a health condition.

‘My road was flooded… when I opened the front door it was like a horror scene, fire engines up my whole road, police, ambulance, and then I looked to my left and it was like the River Thames outside.’

Ms Dolcy-Grant lives on the second floor of her building so her home was not flooded, but at noon on Saturday she said she still had no running water, all shops were closed and transport had been halted on her street.  

Station commander Gary Deacon said from the scene: ‘This is a significant flooding that has affected around 100 properties and left thousands without water.

‘Shift water rescue crews used boats to move around 20 people to upper floors of properties.

‘Three adults and a child were evacuated to a place of safe haven.

Emergency services came to rescue residents after the water main burst, leaving thousands without water

Emergency services used small boats and helped residents wrapped in blankets to safety 

Around 25 people were evacuated to safety, some with pets, who also sat in the boats 

‘A number of residents have decided to remain in their properties and we’re patrolling the affected area to assist any further people who require assistance.’

Mr Deacon added: ‘The water authority are working to isolate the burst water main and firefighters are expected to remain at the scene throughout the afternoon. 

‘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 certain postcodes would be experiencing no or low water pressure as a result of the burst main

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.

The company said in a statement: ‘We’re sorry to customers in NW6 and the wider area who have no water or lower pressure than normal today due to a burst pipe on Belsize Road.

‘Loss adjusters are in the area to assess the damage and support residents in getting their lives back to normal once the water has receded.’

Station commander Gary Deacon said from the scene: ‘This is a significant flooding that has affected around 100 properties and left thousands without water’

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