Taiwan works to restore supply after power outage
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Topics: TAIWAN
Several cities reported blackouts, the official Central News Agency said, as a top official appealed for calm.
“The government has a grasp of the situation,” cabinet spokesman Lo Ping-cheng told reporters. “Citizens please remain calm and there’s no need for panic.”
Utility Taipower said more than six million homes were hit by the outage, which it blamed on a technical failure at the power plant.
The island’s blackouts will run in rotation until 6:20 p.m. (1020 GMT), it said, with a decision on any extensions to be made later.
The economic ministry said it was working to restore supply by evening. The main international airport near Taipei, the capital, and the high speed rail line were operating normally, the transport ministry said.
Fire officials said they were responding to more than 200 reports of people trapped in elevators, most of them in northern Taiwan. ■