A widespread power outage plunged 130,000 homes and businesses into darkness across San Francisco on Saturday, according to Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
The blackout initially affected the Richmond and Presidio neighborhoods, along with the areas surrounding Golden Gate Park, before spreading further across the northern section of the city in the early afternoon.
PG&E has yet to disclose what triggered the massive power cut, which impacted nearly a third of its customers in San Francisco.
Local media and social media users reported that the outage forced numerous restaurants and shops to close, while streetlights and festive decorations were left unilluminated.
On social media platform X, the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management warned of “significant transit disruptions” and advised residents to limit nonessential travel, treating intersections with non-functioning traffic signals as four-way stops.
In response to the power failure, the city’s transportation agencies announced that some Muni bus and BART train stations would not be operating.
At least some of the blackouts were caused by a fire that broke out inside a PG&E substation at 8th and Mission streets, fire officials posted on X at about 3:15 p.m.
At about 4 p.m., PG&E posted on X that it had stabilized the power grid and was not expecting additional customer outages. The company said it was unable to confirm if power would be restored by later Saturday.
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