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Thames Water has issued a formal apology following a significant water main break that resulted in extensive flooding in west London. As a result of the incident, numerous residents in the areas of Shepherd’s Bush, Holland Park, Kensington, and Notting Hill are experiencing either a complete loss of water supply or reduced water pressure.
Martin Padley, the water director at Thames Water, stated that approximately 600 liters per second were escaping from the damaged pipe, which has led to substantial flooding.
Extent of the Flooding
The flooding reached depths of up to 3 feet (1 meter) around the Holland Park roundabout at approximately 03:55 GMT on Wednesday. Residents in the following postcodes may be affected by low water pressure or complete water loss: W12, W6, W4, W14, W8, W11, W1H.
Emergency Response
In response to the flooding, around 40 firefighters were deployed to manage the situation, utilizing an inflatable rescue boat to assist in evacuating residents from nearby homes. Padley remarked, „We are attempting to isolate the issue, but we must consider the impact on our customers. We aim to balance the flooding situation while maintaining supply for the majority of our clients.“
Currently, it is estimated that approximately 2,000 customers are experiencing supply interruptions, with many others facing low water pressure.
Fire Brigade’s Actions
London Fire Brigade (LFB) station commander Kris Seymour reported that a 30-inch water main burst caused flooding that affected over 50 homes and a hotel across a one-mile area. Firefighters employed specialized equipment, including inflatable boats and flood barriers, to manage the situation, which has since improved.
By 05:23, the LFB declared the incident resolved for their team, and affected residents were relocated to a nearby hotel. Road closures are currently in effect around the Holland Park roundabout as cleanup efforts continue.
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Bildquelle: Bildquelle: Andreas Schmidt auf Unsplash
