Parliament radio listeners left in the dark

Hundreds of people in several localities who were stuck to their radios listening to the decisive parliamentary sitting yesterday remained in the dark moments before the crucial vote as a contractor damaged a cable in Marsa causing a power-cut.

The power-cut also affected a live transmission of a special programme on the no-confidence debate on the national television station.

Power was lost at 11.55 a.m. as Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat was winding up a nine-hour debate on the no-confidence motion presented by the opposition. A spokesman for Enemalta Corporation confirmed that a contractor working on a project near Hexagon House in Marsa had hit an electricity cable.

Several localities around the harbour area were affected including Valletta, Marsa, Pietà and Ħamrun.

Power started being restored to some localities at about 12.30 p.m. and the situation was back to normal by 1.45 p.m.

Enemalta employees went on site to identify the extent of the damage, isolated the fault and started repair works.