Seattle Power Outage: Thousands Left in the Dark! What Happened?
Colaboradores
A widespread power outage plunged thousands of Seattle City Light customers into darkness on Monday afternoon. The outage, initially affecting nearly 10,000 customers, primarily impacted the North Capitol Hill, North Broadway, and Eastlake neighborhoods.
Cause of the Outage
Seattle City Light crews quickly responded to investigate the cause of the outage. Reports indicated that downed wires along Lakeview Blvd E were a likely culprit. Later updates confirmed that a broken tree caused a cross arm to break near Boylston Avenue and Lakeview Boulevard, triggering the widespread disruption.
911 callers reported a transformer explosion and sparking wires in the 1300 block of Lakeview Blvd E. The Seattle Fire Department was dispatched to secure the area and address any immediate hazards before City Light crews could begin repairs.
Restoration Efforts and Updates
Seattle City Light worked diligently to restore power to affected customers. Initially, the estimated restoration time was set for 6 PM. However, crews managed to significantly reduce the number of customers without power by 4:35 PM, focusing on a core area between I-5 and Broadway.
As of 5 PM, approximately 4,243 customers remained without power. Full restoration was achieved around 10 PM, according to Seattle City Light updates.
Impact on Businesses
The power outage had a considerable impact on businesses in the affected areas. Many businesses along North Broadway announced closures for the evening due to the lack of electricity.
Seattle City Light's Response
Seattle City Light kept customers informed through updates on their website and social media channels, providing estimated restoration times and details about the cause of the outage. Their prompt response and efficient repair work helped minimize the disruption to residents and businesses.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining Seattle's power infrastructure and the potential impact of severe weather events on the city's electrical grid.