Major power cut in Antwerp after an hour passed
In Antwerp this morning there is a major power failure for many problems in the city center and in the Merksem district. People had to sit in elevators for a long time, and shops were forced to close their doors. Traffic and public transport were also seriously affected.
According to grid operator Fluvius, the outage started at 11:05 a.m. and the problem was not resolved until 12:01 p.m. The cause is said to have been a problem with a transformer of the high-voltage grid. The repair works are still underway, but a reconnection to the power grid means that everyone can be supplied with electricity again.
Fluvius estimates that more than 15,000 residents were affected. But the obstacle was a lot wider. For example, the local police signed that the traffic lights do not work in several places. Road users were advised to remain ‘courteous’. The Waasland tunnel and the pedestrian tunnel under the Scheldt must be closed.
De Lijn had to shut down pre-metro traffic for a while due to the power failure. The stations were evacuated. There was no disruption on lines 8 and 10 under the Turnhoutsebaan and on the tram network.
Some shops on the Meir closed their doors, waiting for a solution. The escalators did not work in Shopping Grand Bazar, but electricity was still available on the ground floor.
There were also reports of people getting stuck in elevators in the area around Groenplaats. The Antwerp fire brigade said that people are freeing people from the elevator in various places and fire alarms are uncertain.