Emergency services were deployed to Wanstead after families, including children, became trapped in four feet of fast-flowing floodwater at Charlie Browns roundabout. Police declared a major incident following a torrential downpour that dropped 45.9mm of rain between 3.10pm and 5pm on Sunday.
Fire crews from across London arrived at the scene with boats to rescue those stranded by the floodwaters. The water swept through the area like a raging river, trapping people and prompting a large-scale emergency response.
Traffic disruption has been severe, with the M11 southbound from Junction 6 (M25) to Junction 4 (A406 North Circular) closed due to flooding near Redbridge and Waterworks. Both clockwise and anti-clockwise links from the M25 to the M11 southbound are also shut. Drivers are advised to follow diversion signs marked with a solid black circle.
Flooding has also forced the closure of eight Tube stations and one Overground station across London, worsening travel conditions in east London. The affected stations are Covent Garden, Edgware Road (Circle Line), Gants Hill, Kennington, North Greenwich, Pudding Mill Lane, Stepney Green, Stockwell, and Surrey Quays (Overground).
Wanstead experienced severe storms, including a lightning strike that caused a power cut. The relentless rain and flooding have left the area in chaos, with emergency crews working continuously to ensure public safety.
Originally published by UKNIP.
