A lightning strike caused a Romford house fire as thurderstorms and torrential rain swept through the city.
The London Fire Brigade were called to reports of a fire in Princes Road, at 1am on Sunday, May 27.
A man, woman and child had already left the building by the time the firefighters arrived.
Residents were without power for more than five hours and are still having trouble getting access to broadband.
A LFB spokeswoman said: “We were called to a semi-detached house of three floors.
“50per cent of the first floor and 100pc of the second floor was damaged by the fire.
“We were there until 6am.”
Joe Emerson was staying in a house nearby.
She said: “I saw lightning strike for the first time ever [...] it was the loudest bang I have ever heard.”
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for heavy rain and flooding across parts of Wales and most of England for this afternoon, Monday, May 28 until 10pm.
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