Dozens of firefighters were called and 50 people led to safety after a canal in London burst its banks as Storm Henk battered the nation.
Fire crews were called to flooding between Dace Road and Wick Road in Hackney Wick at around 10.15pm on Thursday, January 4. London Fire Brigade says 70 firefighters attended the scene.
On arrival they discovered heavy rain had caused the canal to overflow, flooding around 10 acres and affecting nearby properties. As a result, crews had to lead 50 people to safety.
Welfare checks were carried out on 100 people at the scene throughout the night. It came just hours after heavy rainfall sank a bar and restaurant boat in the capital.
Storm Henk has caused widespread disruption across the United Kingdom with major roads such as the A34 in Oxfordshire, A36 in Somerset, and A421 in Bedfordshire experiencing flooding overnight. A Met Office yellow weather warning had been in place until 3am this morning (January 5).
Station Commander Dan Capon, who was at the scene in Hackney Wick, said: “Firefighters worked through the night to ensure the scene was safe and evacuated a number of people from surrounding buildings.
“We urged people to avoid the area where possible. Remember – if your property is affected by flooding, move to a higher level where possible. If you are in immediate danger, call 999. Follow the advice of the operator.”
