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Major power failures hit Brazil Major power failures hit Brazil
(about 2 hours later)
Brazil's two largest cities - Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo - suffered widespread blackouts due to a problem at the Itaipu dam on Paraguay border. A power blackout in Brazil left tens of millions of people spending the night sitting by candlelight, after plunging its two largest cities into darkness.
All of Paraguay was also left in darkness, but only for 15 minutes, while several other Brazilian cities were affected for more than four hours. Underground railways, traffic lights, street lamps, lifts and electric gates in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro were all affected.
The power system lost 17,000 megawatts after the massive dam went offline, possibly because of a storm. It was several hours before the problem could be fixed.
Extra police were put on the streets to prevent a surge in crime. The authorities believe it could have been caused by a fault at the giant Itaipu hydroelectric dam.
The director of the dam said that it lost its entire hydroelectric output, but power was gradually being restored. The underground railway systems in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo shut down, after the power cuts hit soon after 2200 (0000 GMT), leaving many passengers stranded.
In Brazil's major cities, the underground railway systems in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo shut down, after the power cuts hit soon after 2200 (0000GMT), leaving many passengers stranded.
Thousands of rail passengers had to walk down underground tracks to reach stations.Thousands of rail passengers had to walk down underground tracks to reach stations.
No traffic lights or street lights were working in Rio, the hardest hit city, and Sao Paulo, forcing traffic to stop or slow to a crawl. No traffic lights or street lights were working, causing traffic to stop or slow to a crawl.
Crime concerns Extra police were put on the streets to prevent a surge in crime.
Extra police had been ordered onto Rio's streets to prevent any opportunistic crime, reports said. Electricity supplies in Paraguay, which shares power from Itaipu, were also disrupted for a short while.
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 power system lost 17,000 megawatts after the massive plant went offline, possibly because of a storm.
There was absolute chaos on the streets of Sao Paulo, as baffled motorists stopped to ask what had happened. The director of the dam said it had lost its entire hydroelectric output.
'Remarkable'
The BBC's correspondent in Sao Paulo, Gary Duffy, said the power cut happened at a time when millions would have been watching the country's popular soap opera on TV.
He reports that there was chaos on the streets of Sao Paulo, as baffled motorists stopped to ask what had happened.
Radio programmes broadcast appeals for people to drive safely.Radio programmes broadcast appeals for people to drive safely.
Neighbourhood blackouts are common in the city of 19 million, but the scale of this outage was remarkable, our correspondent added. Neighbourhood blackouts are common in the city of 19 million, but the scale of this power cut was remarkable, our correspondent adds.
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, although the capital itself was unaffected. The power failure also affected the south-eastern states of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo, the south-western state of Mato Grosso do Sul, parts of the central state of Goias, and the federal district of Brasilia, although the capital itself was unaffected.
In all, nine of Brazil's 27 states were affected.In all, nine of Brazil's 27 states were affected.
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. In Paraguay, which relies on the Itaipu dam for 90% of its electricity, the entire country was blacked out for 15 minutes.
"The exact cause still isn't known, but we suspect that atmospheric problems, an intense storm, may have contributed to or caused the transmission lines to Itaipu to shut down," he said.
In Paraguay, which relies on the Itaipu dam for 90% of its electricity, the entire country went black for 15 minutes.
Are you in Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo? Has your routine been affected by the power failure? What is happening in your neighbourhood?Are you in Rio de Janeiro or Sao 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.
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