Families stranded outside for six hours after flood in block of flats (From Times Series)

Families stranded outside for six hours after flood in block of flats in Finchley

8:34pm Friday 7th September 2012 in News By Natalie O'Neill

Stranded families are still waiting outside for temporary accommodation after their homes were flooded six hours ago.

Seventy-one flats in Glebelands Close, Finchley, were evacuated when a water pipe burst at approximately 2pm.

Water gushed from the ceiling on the fifth floor and seeped into people’s homes.

Michelle Davis, 43, said: “My flat was flooded with about four inches of water. I just had to grab some clothes and get out of there.

“When I went back in and saw the state of it I cried. Everything’s ruined – my laptops and my printers, my oak floor and my cashmere carpets – everything.”

Metropolitan, which manages the building, is currently trying to find temporary accommodation for the residents.

Zaby Begum, 38, has lived in the block of flats for seven years. She said: “I’m surprised Metropolitan hasn’t got an emergency plan for this sort of thing.

“I definitely think this could have been better coordinated. We have been standing out here all day.”

A spokewoman for Metropolitan said: “We are working to fix the problem as soon as possible, but each of the flats will need to undergo electrical testing before the residents can safely return home.

“This may take some time, so our team working on-site are supporting the residents and working hard to find them short-term emergency accommodation.”