TMCnet News

Major power blackout hits Venezuela
[August 03, 2009]

Major power blackout hits Venezuela


CARACAS, Aug 03, 2009 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- A major power blackout on Monday hit Venezuela's capital Caracas and seven states in the central and western parts of the country.

Power went out at around 2:30 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) in some parts of the capital. The western states of Merida, Zulia, Tachira and Lara as well as the central states of Carabobo, Miranda and Vargas were also affected.

The power failure was caused partially by a technical failure in the Centro-Yaracuy power plant, according to Hipolito Izquierdo, president of the National Electric Corporation.



The cause of the power failure is still under investigation, Izquierdo told the state-owned Venezolana de Television over phone.

Venezuelan Public Works and Housing Minister Diosdado Cabello said the blackout has caused problems in lines 1 and line 3 of Caracas' subway, and also affected the Los Teques Metro and the train Caracas-Valles del Tuy.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]