Metro investigates Lynnwood explosion that left residents in dark
“Fortunately, the station’s safety systems isolated the rest of the substation from any further damage. Furthermore, our firefighters responded speedily to put out the blaze.”
The Tshwane emergency services (EMS) department has not yet determined the cause of the explosion at the Lynnwood primary substation that plunged residents in the east of Pretoria in darkness for a few hours on Thursday evening.
According to EMS spokesperson Charles Mabaso his department was notified of the incident at approximately 21:15 on December 1.
“We arrived on the scene to find a small transformer on fire. An official from the electricity department was on scene to declare the scene safe.”
Mabaso said the rescue team extinguished the flames without any difficulty.
He said the extent of the damage had not been quantified.
“No one was injured and the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.”
MMC for utilities and regional operations Daryl Johnston said power to the area was restored swiftly this morning.
“Last night, a voltage transformer at the substation caught fire, causing the substation to go offline.
“Fortunately, the station’s safety systems isolated the rest of the substation from any further damage. Furthermore, our firefighters responded speedily to put out the blaze.”
Johnston said power was restored to all residents around 02:49.
He reminded residents that load-shedding had a damaging impact on electrical infrastructure.
“Our systems were never designed to withstand continuous long-term rolling blackouts. We have also lost millions of rand to load-shedding in terms of damage but Eskom refuses to take responsibility for these costs.”
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