Residents plunged into darkness!

HALF of Komani in the Eastern Cape has been without power since Sunday, 9 June after the town's Ebden substation caught fire.

Firefighters had to run for their lives when there was an explosion, but fortunately, power was restored to some parts of the town three hours later.

Enoch Mgijima municipal spokesman Lonwabo Kowa said efforts to restore power have begun.

"The substation was damaged on Sunday afternoon when faulty panels caught fire. The exact cause of the damage is still under investigation. The fire resulted in significant damage to panels, cables and switch breakers," he said.

Kowa said a protection specialist has been appointed and is already on-site to assess the damage and determine the cause of the fire.

"Comprehensive testing of all substation components is underway. The specialist's assessment report will inform the municipality of the materials needed and the estimated time required for repairs and the restoration of electricity supply," he said.

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He said as a result of the fire, a large portion of the CBD and several residential areas, including Top Town, parts of Mlungisi, New Rest and Central, are currently without power.

"The municipality is also exploring alternative power sources to mitigate the impact while repairs are being carried out at the substation. The municipality appreciates the community's patience and cooperation during this time and will provide updates as more information becomes available," he said.

Engineer Andre Sieberhagen said Komani is known for its cold winter and there are power outages in the town in winter.

"These are due to burst cables and burnt substations," he said.