PostHeaderIcon Brazil and Paraguay hit by massive blackouts



Because of malfunction of a dam between Brazil and Paraguay, neighboring countries in Latin America, were stricken with severe electrical outages that rendered key cities like Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo in darkness.

Relying on electricity from the Itaipu dam, both countries were without lights. The the breakdown of the dam knocked out power in at least 26 Brazilian states. Among the affected were areas in the southeastern industrialized regions. The entire Paraguayan territory which largely gets power from the damaged dam experienced transient loss of electric power.

According to Jorge Samek, the manager of the world’s biggest hydroelectric plant said the dam malfunctioned--- plunging many places in Brazil into chaos. Traffic slowed causing vehicles to clog major roads and highway. Although airports did not suffer significant delay of flights, the subway transport system was interrupted forcing thousands of Brazilians to walk on the tracks on their way their destination. Rio de Janeiro state governor deployed additional police to maintain safety in the streets while the public waited for electrical power to return.

In Paraguay meanwhile, 90% of the nation had its electrical power dead for about 15 minutes, but it was quickly restored. An estimated 17,000 megawatts as much as what Soa Paulo state consumed is lost. With high volume of tourists and visitors, Brazil is the largest economy in the whole Latin America. (Photo Credit: www.photo4travel.com) =0=

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