Londoners, it seems, are having a real crappy evening.
A reported water main burst late Thursday night in a South London neighborhood, causing localized flooding and what one local journalist identified as “sewage” pouring through the streets.
Trying to stem the tide of brown water... https://t.co/RcwHK8oa4s
— Lewis Whyld (@LewisWhyld) February 27, 2014
Lewis Whyld, a "visual journalist" and self-described "innovations specialist" at the London Telegraph, tweeted a series of photographs of what Londoners were calling the #Londonpoo (others: #poonami). "Kennington in Central London going underwater (sewage?!) right now," he tweeted shortly before 8:30pm local time.
He quickly followed that tweet with photographs of the "sewage," which others on Twitter say was cascading into first-floor homes in the neighborhood. A local resident, 58-year-old Angela Reynolds, told ITV, “The road has been made into a river. It's a bit like Somerset. The water is revolting, brown, muddy—well I hope it's mud.” She added: “The water just flooded the road in 10 minutes. It was quite incredible."
In a message posted on its website, Thames Water attributed the water to a burst water main and said repairs were underway, and apologized for any inconveniences the flood of sewage may have caused. “If you are suffering from flooding inside your home,” the company says, “please call us and we will investigate.” Otherwise, “please do not call us until water levels have subsided.”
The Metropolitan Police in Lambeth tweeted that residents should stay indoors, and “Clapham Road outside Oval Tube Station closed in both directions due to burst water main and flooding.”
Every day that guy behind thinks 'why does he wear that mask to cycle?' then boom... #londonpoo happens pic.twitter.com/lCpy65C9fq
— Lewis Whyld (@LewisWhyld) February 27, 2014
More firefighters arrive as #londonpoo starts flowing down more streets in South London pic.twitter.com/0UGZ02ItMa
— Lewis Whyld (@LewisWhyld) February 27, 2014
Residents evacuating by any means from #londonpoo here using plastic bags as wellies... pic.twitter.com/unkLD4Otqm
— Lewis Whyld (@LewisWhyld) February 27, 2014
So happy I didn't actually see him put her down, they just kept going... #londonpoo pic.twitter.com/REWaXjaaqu
— Lewis Whyld (@LewisWhyld) February 27, 2014
Yep, that's someones front door and the #londonpoo is halfway up it... pic.twitter.com/z82o0ATQaG
— Lewis Whyld (@LewisWhyld) February 27, 2014
Thank the Lord for this bit of pavement. #poonami #londonpoo pic.twitter.com/tJYTsKvQ8c
— Clare Couchman (@ClareCouchman) February 27, 2014
Oval is covered in sewage? Surely Boris' answer is to cut more firefighters and let the market sort it out? #london pic.twitter.com/GoracPYdkX
— Aaron John Bastani (@AaronBastani) February 27, 2014
Apoocalypse Now #Poonami pic.twitter.com/vFlKVfxXG0
— General Boles (@GeneralBoles) February 27, 2014