Massive power outage plunges Pakistan into darkness
Nationwide blackout, power restored and lost again – explosion at Marsa distribution centre in Malta

A fault in one of the generating units of Delimara power station caused a nationwide power cut this evening. An explosion took place at the same time at a distribution centre near Marsa Industrial Estate.
No one was injured but the explosion produced a fire and thick black smoke. Extensive damage was caused. Enemalta reported the fire extinguished at 11.15pm

Power was lost across Malta and Gozo at 7.50pm, setting off burglar alarms as lights and air conditioners went off – as did the street decorations in the towns and villages preparing to celebrate the feast of Sta Marija. Some traffic junctions became dangerous as traffic lights went off.
Supply started being restored to some areas at 8.50pm. But power was lost again at 10.40pm.
A number of readers reported problems with their telephone and internet service.
Many people went out as soon as power was lost, crowding the promenades. Restaurants with generators had brisk business and one restaurant in Bugibba was seen cooking meals over a large barbeque.
Other people cooled off on their roofs and, with power still not back again till late, some opted to sleep there – under a full moon and the annual meteor shower.
At Grand Harbour, a ceremony marking the arrival of the Sta Marija convoy of 1942 continued — the power failure recalled the wartime blackout, someone said sarcastically. Power for the sound system was provided by a patrol boat.
Many localities had their power restored for the second time by midnight.

A spokesman for Enemalta said that the reason for the power station generator fault was being investigated as engineers worked to restore power as soon as possible.
Malta last suffered a nation-wide power cut on January 9 because of a Delimara power station fault.


Power Failure Affecting Thousands In West Island, Canada
Hydro-Quebec crews say a power failure in the West Island Friday is due to defective equipment, but they are not sure where the faulty equipment is.
About 5,000 people lost power at 3:15 a.m. in Ile Bizard, DDO, Pierrefonds and Ste. Anne de Bellevue. By midday just over 3,000 were still without electricity.
The utility said the outage is due to defective equipment, not the cold snap, but the exact cause of the problem is still unknown.
Crews are redirecting electricity from different feed lines to work around the problem.
In the meantime residents in Pierrefonds, Ile Bizard and Roxboro are asked to reduce their electrical consumption.
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