SANTO DOMINGO.- Seven energy circuits were out of service due to a fire and explosion of a transformer at the Gascue de Edeeste substation, leaving hundreds of homes, government offices and private establishments without electricity since five in the afternoon yesterday, including the Presidential Palace.
The company Distribuidora de Electricidad del Este, Edeeste, reported that the affected circuits belong to the metropolitan area of Santo Domingo and Haina, but that everything necessary was being done to restore service as soon as possible.
The mayor of the Fire Department of the National District, Luis Frómeta, said that when they arrived at the scene they found a security agent from the substation passed out, who had to be taken to a health center by a 911 unit. It was nothing serious.
The cause of the explosion is still unknown, while the Edeeste authorities guarantee that starting today the service will be restored, since they are working continuously until the problem is solved.
The administrator of Edeeste, Andrés Porte, explained that power will be supplied to the seven circuits as soon as possible, and that a charging base for the UASD substation is being built to feed government offices.
In addition, network studies are being carried out to be able to supply the circuits in combination with Edesur and other companies.
He said that another 50-megabyte transformer is available and the possibility of installing a mobile substation to supply the missing energy is being studied.
Neighbors in the area explained that the fire and explosion caused panic because they were high-power electrical energy, in addition to the flames and smoke that it caused.
