Millions without power in Denmark, Sweden ( 2003-09-24 17:17) (Agencies)
A power outage struck the
capital of Denmark and southern Sweden on Tuesday afternoon, leaving nearly 4
million people without electricity, authorities said.
Utility officials said the outage, caused by a faulty transmission line
between the two countries, was being repaired and most customers would likely
have power restored before nightfall.
Police did not suspect sabotage or terrorism.
Traffic signals and lights in offices, shops and homes went dark just after
noon in Copenhagen, a city of 1.8 million people.
Hundreds of people emerged from downtown stores and looked around. Some used
cell phones to call friends and family. Traffic along the city's main
thoroughfare was bumper to bumper. Hospitals used backup generators.
Sture Larsson, technical director of the Swedish National Grid, said workers
were working to bring power back up.
"We're reconnecting the electricity from the national grid to the local and
regional network," he said.
Trains in Denmark's new driverless subway system came to a stop along the
8.7-mile long route, a Metro spokeswoman told The Associated Press. Passengers
were evacuated from two trains without incident.
The capital's widespread commuter rail system also came to a halt, police
said.
Flights to Copenhagen's airport were diverted to Sweden, said spokeswoman
Camilla Kjaersgaard.
The Oresund bridge and tunnel, which connects Copenhagen to Malmoe, Sweden,
was closed to traffic.
At the Kronfaagel chicken factory in Kristianstad, Sweden, the power outage
meant a temporary reprieve for about 100,000 chickens scheduled to be butchered.
"Everything came to a standstill. We cannot produce anything," said Mikael
Nilsson, a company spokesman.
