Massive Blackout in Brunei

Firefighters working during the blackout

UFO? No, this is a view from the Old Airport Flyover shows cars moving along SHHB Highway.

SEVERAL areas in Brunei plunged into darkness yesterday evening, following a power disruption at the main electrical station in Gadong. The power outage occurred as a result of the main turbine at Gadong Generator 2 going offline, according to the Department of Electrical Services (DES). The cause of the blackout was still under investigation as of press time.

"The main turbine is down," DES Head of Public Relations Unit Awang Mohammad Abdullah told The Brunei Times yesterday. "We are working towards restoring power to normal in the affected areas".

Gadong, Kiulap, Katok, Tungku, Rimba, Mentiri, Salambigar, Sg Hancing, Pulaie, Anggerek, Jangsak, Beribi, Muara, Sg Akar, Sg Tilong, Old Airport Berakas and Tanah Jambu were among the areas which experienced blackout, which started about 7.30pm. In Tutong District, Sengkarai and Bukit Beruang were affected, according to DES. Temburong District was not affected.

Reports from citizens indicate that Lumut and Kuala Belait have also experienced disruptions, but residents in Lumut said that power was restored by 10pm.

The public relations officer explained that the main turbine is linked to other turbines located in the affected districts, thus causing the loss in power to those areas.

Awang Mohammad Abdullah also shared that the DES hotline, 144, was flooded with calls from the public since the start of the blackout.He added that DES technicians were working at Gadong Generator 2 to get the system back online "step-by-step" as according to standard operating procedure.

By 11.30pm, power was restored to Kiarong, Jln Dato Ratna, Tungku link, Menglait, Old Airport, Burong Pingai, Anggerek Desa and Gadong, he said in an update on the situation at press time."It (the turbine going offline) is not necessarily a bad thing as the power trip could have occurred as the turbine has a built-in safety mechanism which causes it to automatically shut itself down when something goes wrong (within the generator)," he clarified.

Many shoppers and Hari Raya revellers reportedly abandoned their plans as a result of the blackout. Traffic became clogged up from the influx of cars exiting the Gadong commercial area and other business centres almost immediately. Policemen were seen at major road junctions, attempting to control and relieve the jam.

At the time, the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) was not involved in the relief operations but staff on duty said that they had contacted DES to remain updated on the situation, should they require NDMC's assistance.When contacted, RIPAS hospital said that they had not been affected as the hospital had its own power supply to sustain their operations.

The Brunei Times was at the scene when Gadong turned pitch-black due to the power disruption. The sudden plunge into darkness shocked several shoppers at The Mall as screams were heard immediately when the power shut down.

"There were people screaming when the lights went out," said one sales assistant of a clothes shop in the shopping complex. "I think people were quite surprised".He recalled that a similar incident had occurred before, when the floods struck Brunei, cutting off power to major areas in the capital.The sales assistant as well as employees of the other shops at The Mall were closing up parts of the shop to prevent the possibility of shoplifting.

"In times like these, people might take advantage and shoplift since it's difficult to see in this (lack of) light," he explained.The only lighting available at the time came from the emergency lights of the shopping complex. The outagehad also triggered alarms of the nearby bank branches to go off."I think people thought it was a fire drill, so everyone hurried out," said one shopper who saw a rush of people trying to make their way down the escalators to the mall's exits.

Lim Guat Len was attempting to redeem a coupon to try her luck at the local supermarket's lucky draw when the electricity was cut off. Unfortunately, she had to withdraw her chance of winning as the supermarket's security guards did not allow her entry.

"They said I couldn't go in because nothing was working, even the cash registers," said the woman in her 50s.

However, stylists at local salon continued their work using battery powered lights. "We can't stop (cutting hair) halfway," they explained. Revellers used the darkened atmosphere as an opportunity to light up the night sky with fireworks. (The Brunei Times)