Over 170 properties remain without power in Islington over 24 hours after a burst water main sparked serious flooding.
Dozens of residents had to be rescued or evacuated as torrents of water flooded Caledonian Road on Tuesday.
Emergency teams from Thames Water battled through the night to repair the damaged pipe, temporarily restoring water supplies to homes in the N1 postcode area.
But further inspections later revealed a large split in the main, along with a significant underground void beneath the pipe and furhter repairs are ongoing.
Islington Council previously said some residents had to evacuate from their homes and businesses, with the London Fire Brigade confirming they carried out rescues.
Devastated businessowners have told how they “lost everything” in the flooding.
A respite centre for affected residents has been set up at Islington Tennis Centre Market.
Follow for the latest updates...
Thames Water update -
21:10 , Tom PlaceThames Water have confirmed that the customer support hub at All Saints Church on Caledonian Road is now closed for today, reopening tomorrow at 9.30am for anyone who would like to speak with them in person.
UK Power Networks update - 173 still without power
18:55 , Tom PlaceA spokesperson from UK Power Networks has confirmed that 173 properties are still without power.
The spokesperson said: “To work safely, engineers have isolated power supplies to 173 customers in the Caledonian Road area following a burst water main yesterday.
“We will work closely with the emergency services and another utility and restore power as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Thames Water update
18:09 , Tom PlaceThames Water have provided a new update, confirming they are continuing to progress repairs on site.
They are excavating to fully expose the damaged section of main, after which they will assess the extent of the damage to finalise the repair plan.
The statement reads: “We’re sorry for the disruption this has caused for residents and businesses on and around Caledonian Road. Our teams will remain on site 24/7 until repairs are complete.”
They added that their Loss Adjuster team and Customer Representatives remain on site to support anyone affected by flooding, and they are continuing to work with UK Power Networks to restore electricity to all affected properties as soon as possible.
A customer support van, located at All Saints Church on Caledonian Road, is available as a hub for on-site assistance until 7pm.
173 properties still without power
17:42 , Tom PlaceAccording to the latest from UK Power Networks, 173 properties remain without power this evening.
Thames Water are continuing to work closely with UK Power Networks to restore electricity to the affected properties as soon as it is safe to do so.
Thames Water still on site
17:20 , Tom PlaceThames Water still have teams on site, where they are working on clearing the excavation to determine the extent of the damage before commencing the repair.
They will provide a fresh update within the hour.
'Someone has to come and help us survive' says shop owner, as store devastated by floodwater
13:50 , Megan HoweShop owner Mohammed, who is based on Caledonian Road and has owned the store for 17 years, said he has overwhelmed by floodwater yesterday.
He told The Standard how water rushed in within minutes, reaching over a metre downstairs and destroying everything.
The shop is now unusable, with no power, and they don’t know when they’ll be able to reopen.
“Someone has to come and help us survive it because I've got a mortgage, I need to buy food for my family, and my rent [on the shop] is short,” he said.
“People came to take my details, but there’s no action. There should be counsellors to come and help in emergencies.
“I’m stuck. This shop is how I make money to survive - for my children, my mortgage, and to rent the shop. This is all my life.
“To build it up over 17 years, and today? I've got no job.”
“I can't go inside to see because everything is completely gone. I can’t even calculate the cost of everything that’s gone. Everything is expensive.”
'I've got to maintain the business' says funeral parlour employee
12:32 , Megan HoweRachel, who works at a funeral parlour in the worst-affected part of Caledonian Road, said her shop bore the brunt of the impact, as the floodwater hit the wall outside her shopfront and redirected straight inside.
The funeral parlour is also home to a morgue. “It’s not just myself I have to look out for”, she said, gesturing inside.
“I currently have no power to that unit that I need.
She went on, “It’s the nature of the business; I've got other things to maintain.”
'I'm too old for this' says 84-year-old resident Dory
12:30 , Megan HoweDory, who is 84, has lived in the flats in the worst-affected area of Caledonian Road for 55 years.
She was at bingo when the alarm was raised to evacuate her.
“I have diabetes,” she explained. “I hadn't eaten. So they sent a fireman to bring my pills down to me, and one of them went out and got me a sandwich.”
Dory’s health alarm was also on low battery, she added, “I didn't think it was working. I pressed the button, and was told I had about 4 hours of battery in it.”
“We have no electricity, and we don’t know when we will again. It got to 8 o'clock last night, and we had to boil up a saucepan to make a cup of tea.”
“I've got a stairlift, which isn’t working. It's been buzzing all night long, and there's nothing I can do to stop it.”
“We haven’t had a bad flooding like this for 25 years. I’m getting too old for all this, I really am. This has really set me back.”
Dory went on to talk about the impact of the flooding on the local community.
“These poor shopkeepers”, she said. “I feel so sorry for them. They're probably just getting back on their feet from the last flooding we had, and their insurance must be going up tremendously.
“It's not just here, it's the other side of the road, the shops there, it's a lot. The force of it all shook down some of the wall on the canal. It doesn't bear thinking about.”
Update from Thames Water - Water supply restored but residents may experience some loss of pressure
11:20 , Megan HoweThames Water has issued an updated statement this morning.
As of 11am, the water supply has been restored to Caledonian Road, although residents may experience some intermittent loss of pressure as teams carry out works to repair the leak.
A spokesperson for Thames Water said: “Our teams are currently pumping water from the underground void so that repair work can safely resume.
“Your water will remain in supply, although you may experience some intermittent loss of pressure whilst we carry out the complex repair.
“Our Loss Adjuster team and Customer Representatives are on site to support anyone affected by the flooding.”
A customer support van is located at All Saints Church in Caledonian Road.
The van will remain in place until 7pm.
“We understand how disruptive this situation is and sincerely appreciate your patience,” the statement added.
In Pictures: Basements flooded and stores wrecked by damage
09:37 , Megan Howe
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Here's what we know: Estimated timeline of repair, 11,000 homes affected and power cuts
08:48 , Megan HoweGeorgia Bell, our reporter at the scene, has been speaking to workers involved in the emergency repairs.
She has been told that engineers must first repair the burst pipe before work can begin on restoring the carriageway. Damage is believed to extend across the width of the road, with disruption expected to last for a couple of weeks.
The affected area will need to be excavated and a shaft installed to ensure it is safe for crews to carry out repair work.
It is understood that bursts are relatively rare and are largely caused by ageing infrastructure and certain weather conditions, which can cause pipes to “snap like twigs”.
Around 11,000 homes were affected in the initial break. It should take a couple of days to get the pipe fixed.
Our reporter has been told that some shops on Caledonian Road are currently without power.
Thames Water on site this morning
08:05 , Megan HoweTeams from Thames Water remain on site this morning, with large sections of Caledonian Road and surrounding streets closed to traffic.
Diversions are in place, causing significant disruption in the area.
Local residents have reported losing access to gas, electricity and water, while others have been evacuated to nearby hotels.
It remains unclear when normal water supplies will be restored.
Here are some pictures of the scene this morning:
Thames water update - Repair works halted
07:45 , Megan HoweThames Water has issued a fresh update on work to restore the water supply to customers around the N1 area after a burst water pipe in Caledonian Road yesterday.
In an updated at 7.25am, Thames Water said the work had been “temporarily paused” while an on-site assessment was carried out, after a large split was identified in the damaged pipe.
Their full statement reads: “Our teams worked overnight and made good progress with the excavation to reach the damaged pipe. A large split has now been identified, along with a significant underground void.
Due to health and safety considerations, work has been temporarily paused while a full on-site assessment is carried out this morning.
Your water supply should remain on, and we will continue to do everything we can to resolve the issue as quickly and safely as possible.”
An update is expected at 11am.
Coverage resumes
07:38 , Megan HoweGood morning!
We are resuming our coverage of the Caledonian Road burst water pipe today.
Follow our live blog for the latest updates.
Coverage ends
Tuesday 24 February 2026 22:28 , Tom PlaceThat is the end of our coverage this evening - thank you for following along.
What we know so far
Tuesday 24 February 2026 21:43 , Tom PlaceHere is what we know so far, following the flooding which hit the Caledonian Road area earlier today.
- A burst 36-inch water main in Islington saw six fire engines and around 40 firefighters attended flooding in the Caledonian Road area.
- Around 50 people and three dogs were rescued by firefighters using inflatable boats following the flooding earlier today, with a further 50 people evacuated from their homes.
- Thames Water customers in N1, N7, WC1X and EC1R postcodes experienced low water pressure or no water - but water is now returning to all affected customers.
- A rest centre for affected residents has been set up at Islington Tennis Centre Market.
LFB update - Around 100 rescued or evacuated
Tuesday 24 February 2026 21:21 , Tom PlaceLFB have confirmed that around 50 people and three dogs were rescued by firefighters using inflatable boats following the flooding earlier today.
A further 50 people were evacuated from their properties, while there are currently no reports of any injuries.
Emily Thornberry slams 'mismanagement' from Thames Water
Tuesday 24 February 2026 21:10 , Tom PlaceEmily Thornberry, MP for Islington South & Finsbury and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, has commented following the burst main in the Caledonian Road area earlier today.
She said: “Yet again, residents and businesses in our community are left suffering because of Thames Water’s mismanagement.
“I am in urgent contact with Thames Water and am following progress on the repair closely. I expect Thames Water to break their past pattern of behaviour. They must look after those that are flooded and those without water. And they must do it properly: mitigating their suffering, acting fast, and communicating properly.
“I will be attending Islington Council’s scrutiny Committee in-person this evening, where I will make my frustrations at the appalling service Islington residents receive very clear.
“My office stands ready to support any residents or businesses impacted.”
Latest Thames Water statement - Water returns, but electricity goes down
Tuesday 24 February 2026 20:53 , Tom PlaceThames Water have issued their latest statement, in which they confirm that water is returning to affected customers - but electricity to local residents has been temporarily switched off.
The full statement reads: “We’re pleased to let you know that all valve operations have now been completed and water is returning to all affected customers.
“As the network refills, it may take a couple of hours for water pressure to fully stabilise. This can vary depending on where you live, and customers in high-rise buildings may notice it takes a little longer. You may also experience some temporary fluctuations in pressure while everything settles back to normal.
“For safety reasons, electricity to local residents has been temporarily switched off. We understand this creates further disruption, and we’re very sorry. We’ll carry out thorough safety testing before restoring power to ensure it’s safe to do so. Our customer representatives and loss adjusters remain on site to support residents who have been directly impacted.
“We’re also continuing to access the site so we can carry out permanent repairs to the damaged pipe. Road sweepers are also continuing to clear the area.
“Thank you so much for your patience, we know how difficult it is to be without water, and we truly appreciate your patience.”
Business owner on Caledonian Road - 'My business is gone'
Tuesday 24 February 2026 20:17 , Tom PlaceA number of businesses in the Caledonian Road area have been drastically affected by the flooding.
Speaking to Metro, Zackaria from Zac’s Tailoring on Caledonian Road said: “It’s like a river running through, there is two metres of water currently in my shop. My business is gone, I have been here for 17 years.
“There’s no way I can open. I am waiting for emergency services to arrive to tell me what to do, but I will just have to close.”
Zackaria went on to say that his shop was flooded within two minutes of water rushing through the street.
He added: “I was talking to a customer and all of a sudden this water was coming trickling through the door.
“I turned and said ‘what is all this water’, and soon enough it covered the front and back of my shop, it is completely damaged.”
Update from LFB
Tuesday 24 February 2026 18:49 , Tom PlaceA spokesperson from London Fire Brigade (LFB) has confirmed that a number of evacuations and rescues have taken place in the area around Caledonian Road following today’s flooding.
No numbers have been confirmed, given this is an ongoing situation, but it has been confirmed that the evacuations and rescues took place over an area between Caledonian Road and Twyford Street to the junction of Thornhill Bridge Wharf and Caledonian Road.
There will be a further update later this evening.
Update from Thames Water - Water supply restored
Tuesday 24 February 2026 18:34 , Tom PlaceThames Water have provided a fresh update, in which they confirm that a water supply has been restored to the wider area.
The statement reads: “Our teams have now successfully isolated the damaged section of pipe on Caledonian Road, N1. This has stabilised the network and restored water supply to the wider area.
“We are now carrying out further valve operations to gradually return the remaining customers to supply. Once these are complete, we will be accessing the damaged pipe to assess the situation and plan the necessary repairs.
“Water pressure will continue to improve as these works progress, and supplies will be fully restored as quickly and safely as possible.
“Some customers in N1, N7, WC1X and EC1R may still experience low pressure or intermittent supply while we complete these works.
“We remain on site supporting customers affected by flooding, including helping to clear any standing water where required. Our customer representatives and loss adjuster teams continue to provide advice and assistance to those directly impacted.”
Local resident - 'Like a river'
Tuesday 24 February 2026 18:27 , Tom PlaceAnna Longman lives close to Caledonian Road, and is currently organising a book festival in Thornhill Square, an area which has been affected by the flooding.
She was able to capture a video, which was posted on X by her husband earlier today.
Caledonian Road N1 now. Another success in water management by @thameswater @IslingtonTrib @IslingtonBC pic.twitter.com/o6ERKHRjqt
— Philip Rutnam (@PhilipRutnam) February 24, 2026
She told The Standard that she was walking home from the Kings Cross area at around 1.55pm, when she came upon the flood water.
She said: “Suddenly, cars were slowing down. It was awash, like a river, brown water flowing very quickly.
“One lady had to abandon her bike, a nice young man helped her out.
“You couldn’t see the pavement or kerbs, it was very dramatic.
“I think cars were trying to get through before it was shut off. Nobody could cross, it was like having a brown, fast flowing river right in front of you.”
Anna is now safe in her house. The mains water went off some hours ago - but she says it has now come back on.
How has the flooding affected you?
Tuesday 24 February 2026 17:49 , Tom PlaceHave you been affected by the flooding in Islington? Are you out of water? Has your home or business been damaged?
You can send any information or photos to tom.place@standard.co.uk
TfL update
Tuesday 24 February 2026 17:42 , Tom PlaceTransport for London has confirmed that the bus routes 17, 91, 259, 274 and N91 are being diverted away from the area due to the flooding.
Large dog rescued by LFB
Tuesday 24 February 2026 17:28 , Tom PlaceEarlier today, firefighters used a boat to rescue a large dog from the flooded area in Islington.
Paul Wood captured the below images:
Updated statement from Thames Water
Tuesday 24 February 2026 17:17 , Tom PlaceThames Water have released an updated statement, confirming they are working to isolate the damaged section of pipe on site at Caledonian Road.
They confirm that once the main has been safely isolated, water pressure will begin to rebuild across the local network, and as pressure gradually returns, supplies will start to be restored to customers in the affected areas.
The statement continues: “After the main is isolated, we’ll also be supporting customers affected by flooding, helping to clear any standing water where needed.
“We’re very sorry to those who have experienced flooding as a result of this burst. Our customer representatives and loss adjuster teams are on site to provide advice and support to those directly impacted.
“To keep the public and our teams safe, traffic management measures are in place while we carry out repairs on Caledonian Road. We apologise for any disruption or delays this may cause in the area.
“We understand how distressing and disruptive this situation is, and we sincerely appreciate your continued patience while we work to restore supplies and support affected customers.”
The affected postcodes experiencing low pressure or no water are N1, N7, WC1X & EC1R.
Thames Water will provide a further update by 7pm.
Islington Council update
Tuesday 24 February 2026 17:10 , Tom PlaceIslington council have confirmed that staff are supporting the emergency services as they manage the flooding on Caledonian Road.
Cllr Una O’Halloran, Leader of Islington Council, said: “My heart goes out to the residents, businesses, and organisations that have been impacted by this afternoon’s flooding on Caledonian Road.
“We’re working with the emergency services to support those that are affected, and to ensure that those that have had to evacuate can return home as quickly as possible.
“Local people simply shouldn’t have to face this level of disruption – we’re doing all we can to resolve this, but we’re calling on Thames Water to manage the situation, and help get our residents and businesses back into their properties as quickly as possible.”
There is flooding on Caledonian Road due to a burst water main. @ThamesWater teams are on site working to stop the flow.
— Islington Council (@IslingtonBC) February 24, 2026
We’re working with Thames Water and @LFB to support those affected and ensure those that have had to evacuate can return home as quickly as possible. pic.twitter.com/iDe53GGOzT
More incredible footage
Tuesday 24 February 2026 17:05 , Tom PlaceHere is more footage of the flooding, from Billy Cove on X:
North London is under water 💧 #CaledonianRoad #TheCally #Islington pic.twitter.com/PI6Aa2DJTf
— Billy Cove (@BillyCove10) February 24, 2026
Thames Water statement
Tuesday 24 February 2026 17:02 , Tom PlaceHere is Thames Water’s statement regarding the burst pipe:
“We're aware of flooding, no water and low pressure issues in the area. This is due to a burst pipe on Caledonian Road, N1. Our teams are en route and will work quickly to stop the flow. We will carry out the fix as quickly and safely as possible.
“While this work is carried out, customers in the following postcodes may have low water pressure or no water: N1, N7, WC1X & EC1R.
“We know how disruptive it is if you lose your water supply, so we’ll work hard to get things back to normal as soon as we can.”
Remarkable footage of the flooding
Tuesday 24 February 2026 16:52 , Tom PlaceFormer civil servant Philip Rutnam posted this astonishing video on X this afternoon, taken by his wife Anna Longman, showing the extent of the flooding.
Caledonian Road N1 now. Another success in water management by @thameswater @IslingtonTrib @IslingtonBC pic.twitter.com/o6ERKHRjqt
— Philip Rutnam (@PhilipRutnam) February 24, 2026
LFB statement
Tuesday 24 February 2026 16:48 , Tom PlaceHere is London Fire Brigade (LFB)’s statement regarding the flooding:
“Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters are dealing with flooding due to a burst 30-inch water main in Islington.
“The flooding is affecting an area between Caledonian Road and Twyford Street to the junction of Thornhill Bridge Wharf and Caledonian Road.
“Traffic is likely to be impacted by the incident so please avoid the area if you can.
“A respite centre for affected residents has been set up at Islington Tennis Centre Market.
“Two of the Brigade’s specialist Fire and Rescue Units are attending the scene, which are equipped with inflatable boats, pumping equipment and flood kits.
“The Brigade was called at 1346 and crews from Dowgate, Euston, Soho and surrounding fire stations are attending the scene.”
London Fire Brigade update
Tuesday 24 February 2026 16:43 , Tom PlaceThe London Fire Brigade have posted on X to confirm they are dealing with the flooding, which occurred on Caledonian Road.
Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters are responding to flooding caused by a burst water main on Caledonian Road in #Islington.
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) February 24, 2026
The flooding is affecting an area around Caledonian Road between Twyford Street and Thornhill Bridge Wharf.
Please avoid the area if you can. pic.twitter.com/UiQJrBbxX4
Good afternoon
Tuesday 24 February 2026 16:41 , Tom PlaceA burst water main in Islington has caused a huge amount of flooding this afternoon.
Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters are dealing with the issue, while Thames Water have confirmed that customers in N1, N7, WC1X and EC1R postcodes may be experiencing low water pressure or no water.
