A recent power outage in Buenos Aires deprived over 622,000 customers of electricity, coinciding with a heatwave that strained the city’s electric grid. The failure caused significant disruptions across transportation systems, impacting commuters and traffic management. Restoration efforts were underway, revealing critical issues in the city’s power infrastructure.
A significant power outage in Buenos Aires has left over 622,000 customers without electricity, exacerbated by a heatwave causing soaring energy consumption. The blackout initiated at 12:40 p.m. due to a failure in a high-voltage power line, impacting the city’s electric grid for the second time in less than 24 hours. This situation created chaos as traffic lights went dark, stranding subway passengers and overwhelming the city’s transportation system.
Several substations were taken offline by the strain on the power supply resulting from the heat index reaching 42°C (107.6°F). The blackout not only suspended subway services on all lines but also affected 50 traffic signals, leading to disorder in central and southern areas of Buenos Aires. Hundreds of traffic officers were deployed to manage the ensuing traffic chaos.
By Wednesday afternoon, power had been restored to all but two train lines, providing relief to commuters. Meanwhile, emergency personnel were engaged in rescuing individuals stuck in elevators as pedestrians faced oppressive heat on crowded sidewalks, unable to navigate the congested Avenida 9 de Julio.
In summary, a severe power outage in Buenos Aires affected over 622,000 residents, aggravated by a summer heatwave that increased electricity demand. The failure of a high-voltage line disrupted transportation and safety in the capital. While service was restored to most areas, this incident highlights ongoing challenges in the city’s electricity infrastructure, reflecting years of underinvestment in the power sector exacerbated by fluctuating utility rates.
Original Source: apnews.com
