Adds details - Hundreds of households were without power this afternoon after a fault developed in Turbine One at Delimara power station.

Readers reported that the lights went out in Sliema, Attard, St Paul's Bay, Mtarfa, Mellieha, Sta Venera, Attard, Rabat, Zabbar, Marsascala and Gozo.

A spokesman for Enemalta said the turbine which developed the fault produced 55MW while total demand late this afternoon was 220MW.

In order to avoid an overload and more widespread cuts, engineers quickly switched off power to some localities until other turbines came on stream, thus making it possible for power to be restored to all localities quickly.

"The fault developed at 5.38 p.m. and power was restored to all areas by 6.19 p.m." the spokesman said.

Enemalta apologised for the inconvenience.

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