Metro suffers 2-hour power outage

MANILA, Philippines - Major portions of Metro Manila suffered a two-hour power interruption yesterday due to a line tripping, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said.

In a statement, the NGCP said the Sucat-Araneta 230-kilovolt line tripped at 4:07 p.m. after a crane at a condominium project near the Nagtahan Bridge accidentally hit the NGCP’s transmission lines in the area.

As a result, the Balintawak-Araneta 230-kv line was also affected. These two transmission lines deliver power to Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) customers.

Power interruption was experienced in Sta. Mesa, Sampaloc, Pandacan, Malate, Binondo, San Miguel, and Quiapo in Manila; Mabuhay Rotonda and La Loma in Quezon City; and parts of Makati City.

The lines were restored at around 5:30 p.m.

The power interruption also affected the operations of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2, forcing the LRT Authority to suspend trips from Cubao to Claro M. Recto Avenue for 20 minutes.

LRT 2 operations manager Antonio Laygo said Meralco was able to find another grid to provide power. The LRT 2 resumed normal operations by 4:20 p.m. – Donnabelle Gatdula, Rainier Allan Ronda