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27,000 Customers Lose Power as Electrical Failure Hits Manhattan’s Upper West Side 27,000 Customers Lose Power as Electrical Failure Hits Manhattan’s Upper West Side
(30 minutes later)
The New York Fire Department said it was responding to reports of people stuck in elevators as a power failure hit the Upper West Side of Manhattan on Saturday evening, according to the authorities and social media reports.The New York Fire Department said it was responding to reports of people stuck in elevators as a power failure hit the Upper West Side of Manhattan on Saturday evening, according to the authorities and social media reports.
Con Edison’s website showed about 27,000 customers were without power as of 7:30 p.m.Con Edison’s website showed about 27,000 customers were without power as of 7:30 p.m.
It was not immediately clear how widespread the power failure was but social media reports showed multiple subway stations shrouded in darkness.It was not immediately clear how widespread the power failure was but social media reports showed multiple subway stations shrouded in darkness.
The reports appeared to show most of the problems occurring on the Upper West Side between 50th and 70th Streets. The utility Con Edison showed reports of multiple failures in that area, with some reports extending as far east as Fifth Avenue.The reports appeared to show most of the problems occurring on the Upper West Side between 50th and 70th Streets. The utility Con Edison showed reports of multiple failures in that area, with some reports extending as far east as Fifth Avenue.
“We’re getting reports of power outages in station complexes throughout Manhattan,” the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said on Twitter. “We’re working to identify causes and keep trains moving.”“We’re getting reports of power outages in station complexes throughout Manhattan,” the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said on Twitter. “We’re working to identify causes and keep trains moving.”
The New York City Subway system on Twitter said it was working with Con Edison “to determine the root cause of the ongoing power failure, which is affecting Midtown and the Upper West Side.”The New York City Subway system on Twitter said it was working with Con Edison “to determine the root cause of the ongoing power failure, which is affecting Midtown and the Upper West Side.”
The Fire Department said that it was responding to a transformer fire and “smoke in multiple buildings” on the West Side but could not immediately provide a specific location or whether the transformer fire was connected to the cause of the power failure. The Fire Department said it was responding to a transformer fire and “smoke in multiple buildings” on the West Side but could not immediately provide a specific location or whether the transformer fire was connected to the cause of the power failure.
Images on Twitter showed darkened subway stations while others showed inoperable traffic lights. Images on Twitter showed darkened subway stations and inoperable traffic lights.
Fadela Elferdaousy, 42, of Queens, was stranded at the Columbus Circle subway station. She had planned to take the A train home when the power outage occurred. Fadela Elferdaousy, 42, of Queens, was stranded at the Columbus Circle subway station. She had planned to take the train home when the power outage occurred.
“I saw all these crowds,” Ms. Elferdaousy said. “I was wondering what was going on.”“I saw all these crowds,” Ms. Elferdaousy said. “I was wondering what was going on.”
At first she thought something happened at Trump International Hotel and Tower, she said.At first she thought something happened at Trump International Hotel and Tower, she said.
Police officers waved people out of the Columbus Circle subway station around 7:30 p.m. The Shops at Columbus Circle was evacuated shortly after.Police officers waved people out of the Columbus Circle subway station around 7:30 p.m. The Shops at Columbus Circle was evacuated shortly after.
The Fire Department said it was responding to “numerous” reports of people stuck in elevators but it referred questions about any potential loss of power to Con Edison.The Fire Department said it was responding to “numerous” reports of people stuck in elevators but it referred questions about any potential loss of power to Con Edison.
Con Edison did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Con Edison did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The failure comes on the 42nd anniversary of the 1977 power failure that plunged the New York skyline into darkness, triggering widespread looting and arson. That blackout caused an estimated $310 million in damages and was sparked by lightning strikes in Westchester County.The failure comes on the 42nd anniversary of the 1977 power failure that plunged the New York skyline into darkness, triggering widespread looting and arson. That blackout caused an estimated $310 million in damages and was sparked by lightning strikes in Westchester County.