Power line pylon collapses, leaving five Cabo Delgado districts in the dark

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Power line pylon collapses, leaving five Cabo Delgado districts in the dark

2:38 CAT | 06 Mar 2019

Photo: TVM

Five districts in the north of Cabo Delgado have been in the dark since the early hours of Monday, March 4, following the collapse of an improvised wooden pylon carrying a high-voltage electricity transmission line.

The pylon fell prey to flood waters on the Messalo river, the result of heavy rains upstream.

The blackout was confirmed by Mozambique Electricity (EDM), and came after attempts to prevent the collapse of pylons in the Messalo river failed.

EDM estimates that around 10,000 customers are without electricity in the districts of Muidumbe, Mocímboa da Praia, Palma, Nangade and Mueda, and forecasts that supply will be restored on Friday, March 8, if no further collapses occur.

In fact, continuing heavy rain upstream means that the risk has not abated.

This is the second time in less than two years that the same five districts of northern Cabo Delgado have been blacked out because of pylons being situated in high-risk zones.

In February 2018, Muidumbe, Mocímboa da Praia, Palma, Nangade and Mueda were left in the dark for a week when a metal pylon was similarly washed away.

Source: O País