Updated: Long power cuts as third cable fails

Updated 11 p.m.

A third power cable failed this evening, causing fresh misery to thousands of households in the Msida-Swatar-Ta'Xbiex area.

Power has been going off for long periods since yesterday.

Enemalta in a statement early this evening said that following earlier reports regarding the cable fault affecting the Msida, Birkirkara, Swatar and Pieta area, its employees had managed to re-route alternative supply to some of the residents in Birkirkara, Santa Venera and Pieta.

Meanwhile, 'jointing' was taking place and repairs on one of the cables were well underway, whilst repairs would start soon on a second feeder cable which had also developed a fault.

"At around 7pm a different fault, on a separate circuit occurred in parts of Pieta, Msida and Ta' Xbiex area," the corporation said.

10.30 p.m. UPDATE

At 10.30 pm Enemalta said that "the  situation is expected to revert back to normal very soon, in the coming hours."

It said employees had repaired one of the main cables which caused the Msida, Santa Venera, Birkirkara, Swatar and Pieta power cut earlier this week and also today. Meanwhile, works were continuing on the second cable.

Furthermore, the fault which affected Pieta, Msida and Ta’ Xbiex had been isolated. Supply to Pieta was restored at 7.53pm whilst supply to Msida and Ta’ Xbiex "should be restored in around an hour."

The original fault developed just before 3 a.m. and affected parts of Floriana, Msida, Birkirkara, Swatar, Santa Venera, Pieta and Guardamangia.

Some areas of Msida, Santa Venera, Pieta and Guardamangia had power restored by 8.30 am. At 9:32 parts of Floriana and Msida were re-energised, whilst electricity was fully restored at 10.09.

Enemalta said its employees had unearthed the faulty cable and commenced repairs. In the meantime, however, the feeder which was used to re-energise the affected areas this morning was affected by another fault.

Whilst regretting every inconvenience caused, Enemalta said it wanted to assure the public that its employees were working around the clock to fix these faults in the shortest time possible.

"Sometimes reconnection is easy as electricity can be supplied from another distribution cable, however sometimes and especially in cases like this of repeated faults on cables supplying the same areas, there is no option but to wait until the cable fault is fixed to restore supply as no alternative source exists. This unfortunately takes longer as it involves locating the damage on a cable which is underground, digging the road and repairing the damaged cable."

A resident of Swatar told timesofmalta:

"It has been the third consecutive day where we have experienced power cuts in Swatar every six hours lasting for about 4 hours each. In summer it is impossible to live without AC or at least fans! Last night was my second sleepless night due to the excessive heat and this is unacceptable in my 'supposed to be' developed nation."