Parts of New York City go dark after power cut – BBC News
Published -
- July 14, 2019
- 9:16 am
Parts of New York were plunged into darkness by a major power outage that struck a large area of Manhattan.
Several subway stations were among those to lose light.
What does the New York City power outage reveal about the vulnerability of the city’s power grid, and what steps should be taken to address this issue?
Parts of New York City went dark on Saturday, 13th July 2019, after a power cut hit the city. The outage occurred just before 7 pm local time and lasted for about five hours, disrupting life in the busiest parts of Manhattan.
The cause of the power cut was a transformer fire at a substation located in West 49th Street, according to the utility supplier, Con Edison. The incident resulted in major blackouts in the city’s Midtown and Upper West Side neighborhoods, including Times Square, where the iconic billboards were turned off.
Mayor Bill de Blasio addressed the media, saying that the power outage had affected approximately 72,000 customers including businesses and residents. However, emergency responders swiftly went into action, no fatalities or serious injuries were reported, Mayor de Blasio confirmed; adding that the outage was caused by a mechanical failure and not due to any malicious activity.
The power outage generated chaos in many areas of New York City; people stranded in elevators and subway stations. Commuters found themselves stranded and unable to get home until the service was restored. Broadway shows were cancelled, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority advised customers to avoid subways because of the power shortage.
The aftermath of the power outage raised questions about the vulnerability of New York City’s power grid. It served as a painful reminder of the extreme weather patterns found throughout North America. In a tweet, Governor Andrew Cuomo stated that he was deploying 200 “state police, more than 100 generators…and deploying FEMA assets.”
In conclusion, the New York City power outage has disrupted the lives of thousands of New Yorkers in one of the busiest sections of Manhattan. The mayor praised emergency responders for their swift action, preventing any serious injuries. The power cut underlines the need for urgency in upgrading the city’s aging infrastructure, which could prevent future blackouts from affecting this major economic hub.
