A Technical failure It caused this Friday July 4 a high range In the Czech Republic, which affected five of the 14 regions of the country, including Prague, Liberec, Bohemia del Norte, Oriental and Central. More than 3.7 million people They ran out of electricity.
Causes and scope of the incident
The electricity network operator, CEPSreported that a high voltage line, identified as the V411 In the north of the country, it collapsed, which produced a voltage drop which affected Eight substations and left much of the network without energy. Although the exact reason is still under investigation, the authorities They rule out any cyber attack or terrorist act for the moment.
Impact on infrastructure and services
In Praguehe Metro stopped working completely around noon; The lines A and c They were restored in about 15 minutes, while the line b It took about 30 minutes. He tram service was suspended and regional and nearby trains They also suffered interruptions.
In addition, Hundreds of people were trapped in elevators In Prague and Oblasts such as Bohemia Central, and an increase in applications to the firefighters For bailouts. Medium cities, like HRADEC Kroté (about 100,000 inhabitants), were also affected, with Inoperative traffic lights and hospitals working with emergency generators.
In some Chemical plantslike that of Litvínovproceeded to burn production surpluses Due to the interruption of the supply, generating Dense clouds of smoke visible in several locations.
Restoration status
CEPS He informed that, for the early hours of the afternoon, five of the eight substations they had recovered the service, and Prague along with the main regions They were already in the process of restoration. He Václav Havel Airport It was not affected, like the South and Southeast Zone of the countryadministered by EONas well as the Electrical system in Poland.
This blackout happens just Two months later of the Historical supply cut in Spain and Portugalwhich left without light 50 million peoplewhich generates concern about the resistance and safety of European electrical networks.
