UK city high street left completely flooded after water pipe bursts

07 November 2023 , 14:21

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UK city high street left completely flooded after water pipe bursts

A busy street in Sheffield was left completely flooded after a burst water main sparked chaos in the city centre.

Footage shared on social media shows people scrambling to avoid the water on Fargate in the Yorkshire city. Some businesses including Boots and The Benjamin Huntsman pub, and others, were left without water. Fargate M&S reportedly closed their cafe and toilets due to a lack of water, and some people were filmed carrier bags to cover their shoes while crossing the street.

Witness Ollie Potts said about 100 people in the area were left stuck, surrounded by half a foot of fast-flowing water. Yorkshire Water told local media they were contacted by the contractors on the site who requested assistance after bursting the pipe.

A burst water pipe sparked chaos in Sheffield today (@olliepotts777 / Twitter)

According to The Star, Yorkshire Water confirmed the water flow was stopped just before 2pm, adding that staff were working to reconnect all affected businesses and properties. A spokesperson for the company said water would return "quickly" but did not give a specific time frame.

Over the summer, a similar incident happened in Ronkswood, Worcester, after a water main burst on a residential street. People were warned to avoid the area and a police cordon was erected, closing the road in both directions. Water also pushed rubble from the road.

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(@olliepotts777 / Twitter)

Water reportedly gushed into at least one garden on the street, located in a sprawling suburb popular with families. "Wer'e sorry if you’re still experiencing supply interruptions due to a burst water pipe near to Red Hill Lane that occurred at 04.30 this morning. Our teams attended the location to get most properties back on supply an hour later," Severn Trent Water said.

At around 10am on August 21, South Worcestershire Police, part of West Mercia Police, tweeted: "Officers are at the scene of a major burst water main at the junction of Chelmsford Road and Liverpool Road in Worcester. Liverpool Road closed from Canterbury Road to Prestwich Avenue while Severn Trent fix the issue. Please seek alternative routes."

Chiara Fiorillo