The second annual Great Flood of Tooley Street

Anyone got any pics of today's drama on Tooley Street?

Unfortunately not but can confirm that at 8.40 this morning it was utter chaos - though could not see any water at street level like last time. Real action seems to be slightly further down Tooley Street this time at junction with Bermondsey Street rather than up towards TBR. Most of MoreLondon shut with lights out, unbelievable amount of fire crew, ambulances etc. To be frank, I am relieved this is all it is - I thought it might have been something a lot worse notwithstanding likely blight to local business etc.

A few pics etc:
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/3884

from the pic with the traffic light in it, that looks like quite a deep hole!

any connections with last years flooding?
Are the new plastic Thames Water pipes collapsing?
or is it still the old Victorian water mains down there?
any underground streams, or rivers causing subsidence?

We should be told! ;)

The Tooley Street burst water main affected the power supply to the London Television Centre in Upper Ground and caused problems for GMTV this morning:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/may/14/power-cut-gmtv

Even the traffic lights turned red and yellow:


This one has a puddle:



Not to forget the High Volume Pump Tactical Advisor:

We're still on emergency power here at Guy's.

Thames Water is saying that Tooley Street could be closed for a week.

Thanks for great pictures and updates James. Guess the 47 bus home is a non-starter then!!

In all seriousness though, how mad that this can happen twice in a year - buisnesses along Tooley Street must be apoplectic!

This does have potential for an annual festival to propitiate the river gods. Fire engines and floats with water nymphs, hoses squirting high, fluorescent jackets de rigueur, the backs to be lettered with ever more preposterous job-titles - Hose Handling Counsellor, Official Sewage Steward, Puddle Operative...