Power outage in San Francisco: Authorities warn residents
San Francisco, USA, experienced a difficult night, with local authorities urgently urging residents to stay indoors and only leave for essential reasons. This warning came after a widespread and sudden power outage that knocked out traffic lights and caused significant disruption to public transportation, compounded by rainy weather conditions.
Details of the incident and warnings from officials
In the details of the incident, power was cut off Saturday night to approximately 130,000 customers in the city, according to the main power company, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). Local official Daniel Lowry posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) explaining the seriousness of the situation, saying, "It's raining, it's nighttime, if you don't need to go out, stay home." Lowry indicated that traffic police teams were deployed at major intersections to compensate for the lack of traffic lights and to manage traffic flow to prevent accidents.
Reasons for the disruption and repair efforts
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) confirmed in an official statement that it is working in coordination with rapid response teams and local officials to address the outage. Lowry stated that the primary cause of the widespread blackout was a fire at a power substation, adding that he was unable to provide a precise timeframe for the full restoration of electricity, leaving residents in a state of anxious anticipation.
The context of California's energy crises
This incident is not entirely isolated from the broader context of energy challenges facing California. PG&E has long faced criticism and challenges related to infrastructure maintenance and aging networks in some areas. California is among the states experiencing significant strain on its power grid, whether due to natural disasters like wildfires, which are often linked to power lines, or due to severe weather conditions that sometimes necessitate precautionary power outages.
Potential effects and risks
This power outage is particularly significant given San Francisco's status as a global economic and technological hub. The lack of electricity not only means the loss of home lighting but also disrupts essential services and traffic, posing a real threat to public safety, especially during rainfall and poor visibility at night. This incident underscores once again the urgent need to modernize the electrical infrastructure in major cities to ensure its continuity and resilience in the face of emergencies.
