NewsUnprecedented power outage leaves 2 million in Russia's Far East in the dark

Unprecedented power outage leaves 2 million in Russia's Far East in the dark

There was a power failure in Vladivostok.
There was a power failure in Vladivostok.
Images source: © Getty Images, X
Mateusz Kaluga

16 August 2024 14:43

Almost 2 million people are without power in Russia. The outage occurred in the Far East, and Vladivostok is particularly affected. In many places, there is no internet, traffic lights, or light. People are stuck in lifts and trains. What happened there?

There is no power in Vladivostok and the towns of Fokino, Nakhodka, Artem, Barabash, and Ussuriysk. According to the Moscow Times, up to 1.8 million people may be without power, which is almost the entire region. In the district's capital alone, the problem affects about 2,000 buildings.

Regional authorities reported a power outage in the Far Eastern Distribution Company's networks. The short circuit was said to have occurred at the State District Power Plant in Luchegorsk. Authorities added that no "explosions or external threats" were revealed on site. Restoring power after the outage may take several hours.

Power outage in Russia. People stuck in lifts and trains

According to Primamedia, after the power outage, residents of Primorye had problems with mobile internet. ATMs and traffic lights are also not functioning in the region. Many towns have also had accidents due to the lack of traffic lights. Lifts have also stopped working.

Videos appeared on social media. People were trying to get out of electric trains; the local railway suspended services. The airport is operating normally, and hospitals have switched to emergency power.

Just before the outage, training was conducted to prepare for an emergency situation related to the shutdown of high-voltage lines.

Primorsky Krai is the southeasternmost part of Russia. It borders China to the west and North Korea to the south. The Trans-Siberian Railway runs through the region and ends its route here.