Residents evacuated after severe flood at Wolverhampton tower block

Around 70 residents on the 15th down to the 8th floor at St Joseph's Court, in Chadwick Close, Penn, had to be evacuated. Those on the 7th floor down stayed in their homes as emergency lighting was switched on but they were without power or hot water.

Wolverhampton Council enacted emergency planning procedures to provide temporary accommodation for people and transport but people were moving back into the flats at lunchtime today.

West Midlands Fire Service described the flooding as 'severe', adding it was caused by a broken four-inch water main on the 15-storey block.

A spokeswoman said: "It was severe flooding to the 15-storey high-rise block due to damage to a broken four-inch water main on the roof.

"Our crews, from Wolverhampton, Bilston and Northfield, isolated the water and evacuated the block."

The incident happened around 11.44pm last night.

The Red Cross was drafted in to help support those affected by the burst main, with those evacuated being looked after at Merry Hill Housing Office in Chadwick Close and Bradmore Community Centre about one mile away.

Western Power and West Midlands Fire Service worked to restore power as soon as possible.

Water cascaded down the stairwells and the side of the high-rise throughout the night.

While it also found its way into the lift shaft where elevators have recently been replaced, causing concerns to Wolverhampton Homes which manage the building.

Residents came out on to their landings to see the halls covered in a thin veil of water. While it also got into some of their apartments although actual damage to appears to have been kept to a minimum.

John McCallum, aged 71, who lives on the twelfth floor said: "It all happened about midnight last night. There was a tremendous crash.

"I thought someone's washing machine had fallen over or something.

"I went out on to my floor and there was a terrible tremendous noise of water. I went back to bed but there was a terrible noise.

"It was like a storm but of course there was no storm. It was just the water cascading down the side of the building.

"Firefighters were banging on the doors evacuating people.

"I came down the stairs and had to wade through water. There was gallons and gallons of water coming down the stairs. I just about managed to overtake it on the first floor."

Mr McCallum spent most of his time in the Merry Hill housing office until returning to his home briefly at 4pm.

"I had to do a bit of mopping up but there was no damage," he added.

George Burrows, aged 86, who lives on the tenth floor said: "About half twelve I was just told to leave the premises.

"I was still in my pijamas so I had to get dressed.

"There was water on most of the floors. It was a bit of a surprise and quite a shock. There was firemen and building staff every where."

Bikrama Bawa, aged 42, who lives on the thirteenth floor, added: "I kept on hearing this dripping so I went and had a look and water had flooded everywhere.

"There did not seem to be any major damage.

"I just made my way downstairs and went to my friends who lives in the other flat block.

"But there was lots of people outside here who seemed confused and lost.

"It was pretty cold as well. I was amazed at was happening really. It was a bit of a shock."

Shaun Aldis, director of operations at Wolverhampton Homes, told the Express & Star that the burst pipe had been caused by a build-up of pressure.

He said: "At night because nobody really uses the water the pressure builds up.

"I think somebody must have used the water and it blew.

"It is unusual but it does happen.

"The top floor, so eight flats had some immediate damage. They have been flooded.

"Water has then found its own gravity and its own way down, and has cascaded through the block.

"What we do have concern for at the moment is the lifts.

"We have had water ingressing into the lift shafts."

Mr Aldis added: "We were here very early and were in full evacuation mode.

"The fire brigade was concerned in case the emergency lighting started to fail. The power was turned off by Western Power because of water in the block.

"Wolverhampton Homes was quickly on site and our engineers have fixed the pipe and water has been restored to the block.

"Where we are at now is we have emergency lighting on floors one to seven so I took the decision not to evacuate those.

"But we have evacuated floors eight to 15, which is about 60 people. They were directed to the housing office and Wolverhampton Council enacted full emergency planning procedure opening up Bradmore Community Centre, where the Red Cross have also been located to provide support."

A crew from West Midlands Ambulance Service also attended at 8.20am this morning to a patient who was feeling unwell, but he was discharged at the scene after been assessed.