BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Buenos Aires and several provinces in central Argentina were hit by a massive power outage on Wednesday caused by a fire that destroyed three high-voltage lines, amid the worst heat wave since decades.
Transener SA, the company dedicated to transporting electrical energy in the South American country, said in a statement that in the afternoon “three high voltage lines that connect the transformer stations of General Rodríguez – a suburb in the west – were put out of service from the capital – and with the coastal area, following a countryside fire”.
He added that under conditions of high demand for electricity, with temperatures averaging over 30 degrees Celsius, “the disturbance generated oscillations in the system…with the consequent restriction of demand.”
The Atucha I nuclear power plant was shut down preventively.
Several districts of the capital were deprived of electricity, which caused the interruption of the service of the main metro lines and suburban trains. Several areas in the provinces of Córdoba, Mendoza, San Luis, Entre Ríos and Santa Fe were also left in darkness.
Santiago Yanotti, undersecretary for electrical energy, told the Todo Noticias channel that they expected “in a few hours the service will be restored”.
The official said the causes of the fire are unknown, but he suspects it was intentional.
The massive outage comes at a time when the South American country is being hit by the worst heatwave since the turn of the last century.