Caledonian Road Businesses Devastated by Rapid Flooding, Losses Exceed £50,000
A sudden and severe flood has inflicted devastating damage on numerous long-standing businesses along one of Islington's most bustling thoroughfares. Dozens of shops, restaurants, and residential properties were left without essential water and electricity services overnight following a catastrophic burst pipe that transformed Caledonian Road into a temporary river on the afternoon of February 24.
"I've Never Seen Anything Like It": Business Owners Describe the Chaos
Ali Ahmed, proprietor of the Alibaba Pound Saver store, estimates his losses have already surpassed £50,000 due to stock completely ruined by the inundation. His basement storage area, typically filled with clothing inventory, is now submerged under an ankle-deep pool of murky brown water.
"I was inside serving a customer when suddenly all this water started pouring in," the 49-year-old business owner recounted. "I've never seen anything like it. We only just received a delivery in the last fortnight, so all those boxes are completely unusable now. The real problem is we don't know when we'll be able to reopen—maybe three or four days. That represents even more revenue we're not generating."
Despite the financial devastation, Ahmed noted a silver lining in the community's response. "The whole situation has actually fostered a lot of community spirit. Our neighbours and regular customers came by to ask if there was anything they could do and offered to lend a hand. That was a nice feeling, at least," he added.
Decades-Old Businesses Face an Uncertain Future
Just meters away, the constant, deafening buzz of industrial pumps working to remove water adds to the palpable distress among staff. Thames Water crews are conducting what they describe as a "complex" repair operation on an underground void near the Twyford Street junction.
Mohamed Zakaria, owner of Zac Tailoring—a Caledonian Road fixture for nearly two decades—found his shop's door still open, but the interior tells a different story. Two men sat surrounded by hastily constructed towers of furniture, while Zakaria struggled to wipe swirling patterns of mud from the well-worn floor tiles.
"This has ruined my business," the 50-year-old tailor told reporters. "I've been here 17 years, but I genuinely don't know what comes next. It's not just about me; this shop provides for my family. I'm really worried. My heart is broken."
Zakaria is battling a waterlogged basement with three separate rooms completely cut off by the flooding. "It's utterly devastating," he added, shining his phone's light into the darkness below.
Emergency Services Mount Major Rescue Operation
Approximately 40 firefighters from stations across Euston, Soho, and Dowgate descended on Caledonian Road shortly after 1:45 PM yesterday. They employed a combination of inflatable boats, sandbags, and barriers to stem the flow of water. The operation resulted in the rescue of 50 people and three dogs, with an additional 50 residents evacuated from their homes as a precaution.
Nicolas Paties, 32, witnessed the unfolding crisis from inside Aviano, a barber shop located at the corner with Copenhagen Street. He reported that engineers worked late into the early hours and resumed efforts this morning.
"The amount of water coming in was truly terrifying," Paties described. "Thankfully, we managed to stop it in time, but our electrical panel is fried. Our lighting system is completely gone. We'll definitely be closed today and possibly tomorrow, or for several more days. I'm exhausted—I ended up sleeping here last night because there was so much activity happening."
Ongoing Disruption and Official Response
A majority of businesses along Caledonian Road are currently engaged in pumping water from their basements. A rest centre for affected residents has been established at the Islington Tennis Centre Market. The road remains partially blocked between All Saints Church and the Esso Patrol Station, with authorities providing no estimated timeline for full reopening.
Thames Water is expected to maintain a presence on-site throughout the day. Islington Council confirmed in an official statement that it is collaborating with emergency services to manage the ongoing situation.
Council Leader Councillor Una O’Halloran stated: "Local people simply shouldn’t have to face this level of disruption. We're doing everything within our power to resolve this situation, but we're urgently calling on Thames Water to manage the incident effectively and assist in returning our residents and businesses to their properties as swiftly as possible."
