Observatory substation fire sparks 7-day power outage in some Joburg areas

[Nat Quinn]

Residents in Kensington and surrounding areas found themselves shrouded in darkness, with no power on Saturday morning. As a local substation succumbed to flames.

A fire in the early hours ravaged the vital Observatory substation, impacting the region’s power supply and leading to widespread outages.

City Power swiftly responded to the crisis, dispatching teams to assess the extent of the damage. The preliminary findings revealed a dire situation, with the control room—housing crucial telecommunication cables—completely consumed by the blaze.

WHAT DID THE CITY POWER’S SPOKESPERSON SAY?

Isaac Mangena, spokesperson for City Power, expressed frustration about the extensive damage, stating that comprehensive repairs would require excavation of underground cables.

Image: X/@CityPowerJHB

As the utility embarked on a meticulous mop-up operation, Mangena extended a sincere apology to affected customers.

“We really apologise to the customers that have been affected. The cause of the fire has not been established but the team is investigating,” he said.

The cause of the fire remains unknown. Prompting an ongoing investigation by City Power’s dedicated team.
The outage has affected several neighborhoods, including Yeoville, Linksfield, Houghton Estate, Bellevue, Malvern, Troyeville, and Observatory itself.

REPAIR WORK MIGHT TAKE 7 DAYS

City Power estimates that the repair work might span up to seven days. Emphasising the intricate nature of the restoration process.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of essential infrastructure. Prompting local authorities to reevaluate and reinforce measures to prevent such catastrophic events in the future.

 

source:Observatory substation fire sparks 7-day power outage in some Joburg areas (thesouthafrican.com)

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