Seventeen Homes Flooded as Burst Water Main Creates Man-Made River in Southampton
A burst water main in Southampton has left 17 homes underwater and forced a major evacuation this morning.
Chaos on Stanier Way: Streets Turn Into Flood Zone
Just after 10am, emergency services raced to Stanier Way in Hedge End when a huge water main burst, sending a torrent of dirty water rushing down the residential streets. Fire crews from Hightown, St Mary’s, and Fareham were met with waist-deep flooding – approximately four feet in places – sweeping through homes on Stanier Way, Mallard Gardens, and Old Shamblehurst Lane.
Pensioner Rescued by Fire Service Boat
Trapped by the rising waters, one elderly resident had to be rescued from a window via a fire and rescue boat. Specialists from Romsey’s environmental unit attended, unsure if the flood waters were hazardous. Hazmat officers from Hampshire Fire and Rescue were also called in to deal with the contaminated water and mud flowing through the Hedge End estate.
Massive Power and Water Outage Hits 70,000 Homes
Emergency crews managed to prevent the flood from damaging a key substation supplying 20,000 homes. However, power and water supply were cut to the flooded properties as a precaution. Southern Water confirmed the shutdown of the main led to a temporary blackout for around 70,000 homes across surrounding areas, including Locks Heath, Sarisbury Green, Park Gate, Swanwick, Whiteley, Fareham, and Curdridge.
A Southern Water spokesman said crews are scrambling to fix the gaping hole left in the pavement and road while restoring the network. By 3pm, water supply was back on for all affected households after repairs diverted the water flow.
Fire Chief’s Warning
“The water was like a flowing river when crews arrived,” said Station Commander Nigel Cooper. “It was about four feet deep in places. Firefighters used portable pumps all morning, battling knee-deep water inside homes to stop further damage.”
The evacuation and emergency response have highlighted the serious risk burst mains pose in busy residential areas. Repairs are ongoing as Southern Water works to prevent future incidents.
