The social security offices at Markwell House in Douglas will remain closed until at least next week, after flooding caused severe damage to the building.
The caretaker raised the alarm first thing this morning and the department put its Disaster Recovery Plan into operation for the first time.
A burst pipe on the fourth floor caused extensive damage to offices, equipment, electronics and IT systems, with the third floor, housing the chief executive's office, worst hit.
Staff have been redeployed in other government offices and two phone lines have been set up for claimants.
An announcement on the restoration of counter services will be made later today.
Chief operating officer at the DHSS Lesley Keenan is assuring the public confidential and senstive information is secure (play attached audio file):
The phone numbers for customers are 685656 and 685026.
(Picture: Inside Markwell House today).
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