Four weeks ago, ALJAZEERA filed the above report about how vulnerable Iraq's power grid was. If people didn't grasp it four weeks ago, they did over the weekend.
From Saturday's "Iraq loses power:"
Abdulrahman Zeyad (AP) reports:
Power was cut off in large swaths of southern and central Iraq for much of Saturday during scorching summer heat and observances of the Shiite holy day of Ashoura after a fire broke out at a power station in the southern city of Basra.
The fire at the Al-Bkir substation in Basra resulted in the separation of transmission lines linking the southern and central regions, leading to a complete shutdown of the electrical system in the area, Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity said in a statement. It said the fire was accidental.
The power outage came as the electrical system faces other challenges, including fuel shortages and surging demands for electricity during a major heat wave. On Saturday, temperatures reached 47 degrees Celsius (116.6 degrees Farenheit).
116 degrees and no power? Their elected leaders have failed them and the self-appointed ones like cult leader Moqtada have as well.
A fire broke out at the Al-Bkir substation in Basra and resulted in the separation of transmission lines linking southern and central regions, leading to a complete shutdown of the electrical system in the area, Iraq's Ministry of Electricity said in a statement. It said the fire was accidental.
"The power grid experienced a total shutdown on Saturday at 12:40 p.m. (0940 GMT/UTC) due to a fire that affected a transmission substation in Basra province," the ministry said.
Ministry spokesman Ahmed Moussa told the AFP news agency that at some point the incident affected main supply to "all of Iraq."
"Speedy repairs are under way ... to gradually restart the power plants and transmission lines," the ministry said.
A leader has failed to emerge in Iraq, one who would fight for the people.
Again, ALJAZEERA warned about this four weeks ago.