After a nine-week battle (previously), London’s sewer heroes have vanquished a 130-tonne (143 ton) fatberg lurking beneath the city. The congealed mass of fat, trash, wet wipes, diapers, condoms, excrement and death had formed a glistening wall of pale horror that presented “the most gut-wrenching work” waste manager Alex Stephens had ever seen. But the “beast is finally defeated”.
Thames Water says fatbergs form when people put things they should not down sinks and toilets.
The company spends about £1m every month clearing blockages from the capital’s sewers.
The final section of the affected tunnels, reports the BBC, had to be cleared by hand, with shovels.