Boat sinks and streets flooded as London is battered by deluge

A LONDON party boat sank and 50 people were led to safety in Hackney Wick after heavy rain and flooding hit the capital.

- Lydia Chantler-Hicks, Will Mata

The city was battered by a deluge yesterday amid a yellow weather warning for rain issued by the Met Office across south-east England.

An RNLI lifeboat and Met Police and fire brigade vessels were scrambled to Temple Pier in central London around 12.30 pm after a party boat moored there sank. A spokesman for the Bar & Co boat, which is a floating bar, restaurant and nightclub, said: “Likely it sunk because of weather conditions.”

An HM Coastguard spokesman said: “A restaurant vessel sank at Temple Pier. The alarm was raised at about 12.30 pm and everyone is accounted for.”

The Port of London Authority has advised vessels to pass Temple Pier with “great caution”.

Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were later called to Hackney Wick in east London amid severe flooding on Smeed Road after a canal burst its banks.

Water flooded around 10 acres of land in the Hackney Wick area, said London Fire Brigade, affecting properties.