WATCH: Home damaged after burst water main floods road
The side of a house has been ripped away after a torrent of water flooded a road in Tipton.
Flood water gushed along Park Lane West after a main burst spectacularly at around 2pm today.
People had to be evacuated near the burst main as crews battled through the waters to reach the scene.
The force of the burst shot water 20ft into the sky and into the side of a house.
Water smashed through the house leaving the stairway exposed and roof teetering.
Broken doors and bricks were scattered in the aftermath.
Park Lane West near Baker Street and Manor Road was closed into the evening by the flood waters later clean-up operation.
WATCH moment huge plume of water shoots into the air
Footage: Tahir Ahmed
Business owner Paresh Patel, who runs Paz Newsagents, said he had to hold the door of his shop shut to keep the majority of the water back.
But water did manage to get in and damage the floor and the cellar of the shop. There was also water damage to machinery inside.
"Everything in the shop has been damaged," he said. "And then depending on the date of the stock that's another thing.
"Hopefully the insurance will sort it out.
"We were not allowed further down the road due to the electrics and the water," he said.
"The floor has gone and the cellar."
Resident Tahir Ahmed, who witnessed the early stages of the torrent, said: "This caused major disruption.
"Streets have been flooded and a house has even come apart.
"My garden is flooded and everyone is stuck."
More footage emerged showing the 18-inch water main moments after it burst on the edge of a pavement and roadway.
Footage: Tim Thursfield
Six fire crews from Tipton, Dudley, Bilston, West Bromwich, Brierley Hill and Smethwick stations were sent to the road.
There was also a technical rescue team and a crew manning a high volume pump from West Midlands Fire Service to clear the water.
Firefighters waded through the waters, which subsided to around 18-inches high in places, to reach home owners and businesses.
They also deployed dinghies as they helped people stranded in their homes.
Operations commander Martin Mills, from West Midlands Fire Service, said: "We arrived to find a burst main initially which was quite intense and had caused flooding.
"We had to evacuate a number of people in surrounding areas to make sure that they were safe.
"In conjunction with police, West Midlands Ambulance Service's hazardous area response team and the water board, we have managed to isolate the main.
"We are trying to see if we can get some of retreating water and pump it out to a safe location.
"Once that's pumped out we have been moving from property to property to make sure that if there's any more flooding we do the same there.
"We have got structural damage to one property.
"There is no immediate risk but it has been cordoned off and we are making further investigations.
"The water was as high as the house as we arrived.
"At this stage there's been no injuries."
Some people were seen trying to brush back the flood water from front drive ways.
South Staffs Water and Sandwell Council issued warnings on social media.
A South Staffs Water spokesman said: "We have located the burst and we are in the process of isolating the main.
"Some customers may be without water while we carry out the repair.
"Customers in the wider area may also be experiencing low pressure or discoloration."
Phil Newland, managing director at South Staffs Water, added: “We are really sorry for any inconvenience caused.
"Customers may experience intermittent supply issues while we carry out the repair.”
Customers living in parts of Tipton, Walsall, Dudley and north Birmingham may experience problems with their water supply into the evening, the firm said.
West Midlands Police issued a neighbourhood alert online urging people and motorists to avoid the area.
Silvertrees Academy was evacuated due to the water levels and pupils were sent home for the afternoon.
But the school will reopen again tomorrow.
However, Tipton Green Junior School, also in Park Lane West, was also evacuated and it will be closed to children and staff tomorrow, say Sandwell Council.
It is not yet known how the water main problems affect the school.
