This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8353878.stm
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Major power failures hit Brazil | Major power failures hit Brazil |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Brazil's two largest cities - Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo - are suffering major blackouts due to a problem at the Itaipu dam on the border with Paraguay. | |
| Several other cities have also been affected by the power failures. | Several other cities have also been affected by the power failures. |
| The country lost 17,000 megawatts of power after the massive dam went offline, possibly because of a storm. | The country lost 17,000 megawatts of power after the massive dam went offline, possibly because of a storm. |
| The director of the Itaipu dam said that it has lost its entire hydroelectric output, but power is now returning to some areas. | The director of the Itaipu dam said that it has lost its entire hydroelectric output, but power is now returning to some areas. |
| The underground railway system in Rio de Janeiro shut down, after the power cuts hit soon after 2200 (0000GMT), leaving many passengers stranded. | The underground railway system in Rio de Janeiro shut down, after the power cuts hit soon after 2200 (0000GMT), leaving many passengers stranded. |
| No traffic lights or street lights were working in the city, and drivers were pulling over to the side of the road in Sao Paulo. | No traffic lights or street lights were working in the city, and drivers were pulling over to the side of the road in Sao Paulo. |
| The BBC's correspondent in Sao Paulo, Gary Duffy, said the power outage happened at a time when millions would have been watching the country's popular soap opera on TV. | The BBC's correspondent in Sao Paulo, Gary Duffy, said the power outage happened at a time when millions would have been watching the country's popular soap opera on TV. |
| Neighbourhood blackouts are common in the city of 19 million, but the scale of this outage was remarkable, he added. | Neighbourhood blackouts are common in the city of 19 million, but the scale of this outage was remarkable, he added. |
| The power failure also affected the southeastern states of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo, the southwestern state of Mato Grosso do Sul, parts of the central state of Goias, and the federal district of Brasilia, the capital. | The power failure also affected the southeastern states of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo, the southwestern state of Mato Grosso do Sul, parts of the central state of Goias, and the federal district of Brasilia, the capital. |
| The Itaipu dam provides Brazil with 20% of its electricity. | The Itaipu dam provides Brazil with 20% of its electricity. |
| Mines and Energy Minister Edison Lobao said a large storm in the area of the dam might have caused the power failure. | Mines and Energy Minister Edison Lobao said a large storm in the area of the dam might have caused the power failure. |
| In Paraguay, which relies on the Itaipu dam for 90% of its electricity, the entire country went black for 15 minutes, but reports from the capital Asuncion say that power has now returned. | In Paraguay, which relies on the Itaipu dam for 90% of its electricity, the entire country went black for 15 minutes, but reports from the capital Asuncion say that power has now returned. |
| Are you in Rio de Janeiro or San Paulo? Has your routine been affected by the power failure? What is happening in your neighbourhood? | Are you in Rio de Janeiro or San Paulo? Has your routine been affected by the power failure? What is happening in your neighbourhood? |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Send your comments using the post form below. | Send your comments using the post form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |