Azerbaijan powerless after lightning
29 Sep 2012 2:38 AM GMT
A stroke of lightning that hit a substation of the Mingyachevir Hydroelectric Power Plant in Azerbaijan caused a breakdown of several power units, leaving almost half of Azerbaijan’s territory without electricity.
The lightning stroke at the station at about 01:00 GMT caused a fire that was extinguished by fire-fighters. Work is underway now to resume the operation of the station, Azerbaijan’s Emergencies Ministry reported.
According to the ministry, the incident caused electricity supply problems in Baku and many other cities and districts of Azerbaijan.
It disrupted traffic in the capital, traffic police chief Vagif Asadov told reporters. Lights at streets and avenues did not work, and it caused a chaos and congestions on roads.
Policemen are working on roads to regulate traffic and normalise the situation.
The Baku metro stopped working. Now the operation of the underground is returning to normal.
The Azerbaijani Railways company, due to the problems, uses diesel locomotives for trains, head of the company’s press service Nadyr Azmammedov said. Despite the problems with electricity supply, the transportation of all the trains will be ensured, though with delays, he noted.
The electricity cut-off in Baku did not affect the work of Azerbaijan’s provider Delta Telecom, the company’s technical director Raid Alekberli said, adding that electricity was supplied from generators.
The incident had no effect either on the work of Geidar Aliyev international airport. There are no problems with electric power at the airport. The planes would fly according to schedule, airport sources assured.
The Mingyachevir HPP is the largest hydroelectric power station in Azerbaijan. It is located on the Kura River near the city of Mingyachevir.
The lightning stroke at the station at about 01:00 GMT caused a fire that was extinguished by fire-fighters. Work is underway now to resume the operation of the station, Azerbaijan’s Emergencies Ministry reported.
According to the ministry, the incident caused electricity supply problems in Baku and many other cities and districts of Azerbaijan.
It disrupted traffic in the capital, traffic police chief Vagif Asadov told reporters. Lights at streets and avenues did not work, and it caused a chaos and congestions on roads.
Policemen are working on roads to regulate traffic and normalise the situation.
The Baku metro stopped working. Now the operation of the underground is returning to normal.
The Azerbaijani Railways company, due to the problems, uses diesel locomotives for trains, head of the company’s press service Nadyr Azmammedov said. Despite the problems with electricity supply, the transportation of all the trains will be ensured, though with delays, he noted.
The electricity cut-off in Baku did not affect the work of Azerbaijan’s provider Delta Telecom, the company’s technical director Raid Alekberli said, adding that electricity was supplied from generators.
The incident had no effect either on the work of Geidar Aliyev international airport. There are no problems with electric power at the airport. The planes would fly according to schedule, airport sources assured.
The Mingyachevir HPP is the largest hydroelectric power station in Azerbaijan. It is located on the Kura River near the city of Mingyachevir.
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