Residents of a street in Oldham have been forced to leave their homes after a blocked pipe caused severe flooding on Friday morning. At least six properties on Hollins Road, at the junction of Howgill Crescent, were affected, with water reaching waist height in some areas.
Noby Philip, 50, a father of three, woke at 4am to find the street underwater. "It was like a lake. I've been here for two-and-a-half years, I've never seen anything like it," he said.
Fire crews rescue residents from flooded homes
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) sent five fire engines from Hollins, Chadderton, Rochdale Central, Manchester Central, and Blackley fire stations. They remained on the scene for more than nine hours, pumping water away from the road.
Firefighters helped Mr Philip's children, the youngest aged 13, escape through their bedroom windows and down a ladder. Mr Philip had to move his car, which was parked in front of the house, and said the inside of the property was full of water.
Residents describe damage and disruption
By Saturday, most of the water had been drained, but the road remained closed to cars, and pedestrians had to navigate muddy pavements. Mr Philip, who works in shipping and logistics, showed the Manchester Evening News the damage inside his rented home. Water had travelled from the vestibule through the living room and into the kitchen, leaving carpets damp.
"It's all contaminated water," he said. "It's not in a liveable condition. The council has arranged for us to stay in a hotel in Rochdale for a few nights but we'll have to find a new home."
Haseeb Sajjad, 27, who lives in the flat above Billy's Cuts barber shop, said: "I got up around dawn, and there was water everywhere, it was up to my hip. My car was submerged in the water." He was told not to return to his flat and stayed with family nearby. The council advised against re-entering the property due to the depth of the water and potential impact on electrical wiring.
Bilal Amin, owner of the barber shop, arrived on Saturday morning to assess the damage. "We're open every day except Tuesday. We're a busy shop," he said. "I'm not sure how long it will be closed for, it depends what the council says."
Sandra Marks, an elderly resident who was not affected personally, described the scenes: "It was horrific. There were two big fire engines here. I saw the firefighters carrying two young lads out of the window and down the ladders. I was worried the water would come this far. It was going on all day."
Council and United Utilities respond
A United Utilities spokesperson said they remained on site working with partners to support residents, and an investigation is ongoing.
A spokesperson from Oldham Council said Hollins Road will remain closed until the area is considered safe to reopen, adding: "Six properties have been affected by the incident and Oldham Council is providing support to all affected residents. We will continue to work closely with United Utilities and provide further updates when more information becomes available."
