A mum and her baby have had to abandon their home for the night as they are still without power and any word of when it will be back
A power cut across East London - including in Tower Hamlets and Limehouse - caused chaos and 'hectic' scenes yesterday afternoon and evening after a loss of electricity. Reports on social media suggest it started around 12.30pm on Tuesday (March 29), initially leaving 38,000 people without power. As of 9pm, people were without power for nearly nine hours.
Multiple bystanders described traffic lights 'going out' which led to confusion on the roads. One man reported: "Yes Limehouse and Wapping affected whole blocks of flats out of power and traffic lights not working. Rotherhithe tunnel being closed."
The DLR was also been suspended due to 'faulty communications equipment'. TfL have not confirmed if this relates to the power cut in the area. It said: "Docklands Light Railway: No service while we fix faulty communications equipment. London Underground, Southeastern and C2C accepting tickets via any reasonable route."
East Londoners shared their frustration with the blackout as many are now unable to work from home, or connect to the internet via their WiFi. MyLondon will bring you more updates below as events unfold.
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UK Power Networks took to Twitter to apologise to disgruntled East London residents. One resident said: "there's been no update for several hours - when will this be fixed?"
UK Power Networks responded: "We don't at present have a timeframe at the moment but we do have staff on site working on the issue. If you need further updates, please send over a number so these can be set up."
Following the power cut, normal service has now resumed on the DLR. The only disruption passengers can expect on the London Underground today is to the Northern Line, on which there is no service between Moorgate and Kennington due to major upgrade works.
Though power has returned for many, some East Londoners have woken up still without power or even running water. Speaking to UK Power Networks directly on Twitter, one resident said: "Hi we now have power in parts of E14 area but still no running water. Can you please advise when this may be fixed?"
Another added: "We are without the power since 12.30pm yesterday, I can see neighbours across the street getting lights back on, when can we expect to have the power back?"
There is still a part suspension in place between Westferry, Poplar and Heron Quays due to the blackout across East London. However, London Underground and local buses are accepting tickets via any reasonable route.
UK Power Networks estimates the power will be back on at some point between 10:30am and 11:30am this morning (March 30). In their latest statement released on Twitter, they said: "We would like to apologise to customers in the E1 and E14 areas of London who are still without power following an earlier fire at a substation. We are working hard to reconnect supplies as quickly as possible. For updates, please visit our website: https://ukpowernetworks.co.uk/power-cut/map"
Good morning, and welcome back to our coverage.
We'll bring you the latest on this story as it unfolds.
Texts from UK Power Networks tell the story of today's blackout which has left at least 3000 Londoners facing a night without electricity - it could be as late as 11am tomorrow by the time the issues are fixed. A fire at a substation in Poplar caused the chaos which has left traffic lights and street lamps off around the East end this evening.
UKPN told customers: "We lost power to several thousand properties at approximately 12:30 this afternoon due to a fire at our substation in Castor Lane, Poplar. Our engineers were immediately dispatched to site though were unable to gain access to the substation until the fire was under control. The London Fire Brigade had ten engines and 70 firefighters in attendance and have now deemed it safe for our staff to enter the building. The damage is currently being assessed.
"We were able to remotely divert power to restore electricity to the majority of customers, and we have mobilised multiple generators whilst we continue to undertake investigations and work overnight to restore the remaining 3000 customers. We will restore customers in stages throughout the night and the morning and final customers will be restored by 11:00."
Some residents of East London are facing a night of 'complete darkness' as engineers try to return power across the capital following a power cut that began at 12:30pm today. A fire at an electrical substation in Poplar was brought under control by firefighters this evening but some areas area still without electricity.
Mathieu Bouchard, who lives in Limehouse Basin, told MyLondon his power came back around 6:30pm, but buildings on Horseferry Road and Narrow Street didn’t get power back until 8pm.
He said: "I could see people using torches to navigate through their apartments, something we had to do during the day in our building as the enclosed hallways and stairwells had no lights with backup lights lasting just 2-3 hours. Even trying to find the keyhole to open the apartment door was an adventure."
With firefighters still tackling the blaze, he said he tried to check hotel rooms for the night "on what seemed like 90s dial-up speed data" on his phone, then the power came back.
He added: "We can at least count ourselves lucky now given everything is run off electric in this development. Sadly, further east of us there are still pockets of complete darkness and they will likely be without power tonight. Hopefully those residents can get help to spend the night somewhere safe and comfortable."
Mile End station in East London is shut following a power cut today. Nearly ten hours after parts of the capital loss electricity the effects are still being felt.
A mum and her baby living in Westferry, East London, have had to abandon their home for the night as they are still without power and any word of when it will be back. She is currently staying with her in-laws while she waits for an update.
Becky Murray told MyLondon: "We still have no electric, not even got cold water. Can’t flush the toilet. Emergency lights not even working in main hallways so can’t see where to go down the fire exit. It’s been like this since 12.30.
"They said they are sending vans to let us use microwaves and charge our phones but not much use when there’s loads of us needing power. No word as to when it’s coming back on either."
Photos show traffic lights in Mile End are still off after a London wide power cut which first reported around 12:30pm this afternoon. UK Power Networks maps show power has returned to some areas of East London, however some areas are still without electricity.
There are still queues on both approaches to the Rotherhithe tunnel in both directions after today's blackout. The Blackwall and Limehouse link tunnels re-opened this evening after disruption from the East London power cut. The Rotherhithe tunnel also re-opened but there are still some delays.
Inrix said: "Queueing traffic due to earlier power failure on A101 Rotherhithe Tunnel in both directions from Rotherhithe to Limehouse. Congestion to either side of the river, with delays building along the A13 and the A200 and through most of East London. All lanes have been re-opened."
The Blackwall tunnel southbound has re-opened but the northbound section remains closed after a powercut across East London today. TfL cameras show cars entering at the northern approach to take drivers from Poplar to Greenwich.
The Rotherhithe tunnel is still closed because of the power failure, according to Inrix. TfL cameras are showing huge queues around Limehouse and Wapping. The Limehouse link tunnel has re-opened in both directions, however there are still delays backing up to Tower Bridge.
Drivers travelling around South East London are facing the worst of traffic chaos caused by today's blackout. The power cut which hit East London just after 12:30pm remains unresolved, though some areas have had power restored.
The outage - caused by a fire - briefly forced the entire DLR to be suspended, while the Rotherhithe, Blackwall, and Limehouse link tunnels were all closed. Inrix is now reporting parts of the tunnels have reopened.
Firefighters are still fighting the blaze at an electrical substation in Poplar which led to the evacuation of 1500 pupils from a nearby college and a further 100 peope from a depot. The Poplar DLR station remains closed, while the rest of the line is back up and running.
Security at New City College Sheku Mansary said: “There was heavy smoke, they are still working on it. We evacuated and all the students went away for the day due to the power cut. It’s a big problem, the smoke is still there, you know?”
College staff member Bulent said: “We needed everyone to evacuate because the power went out. It was around one or two o’clock. The fire caused our power to cut out for around 30 minutes. We evacuated all the students and ended classes for the day. As far as I know we should be fine for tomorrow. They closed the DLR station because it was covered in smoke.”
Security guard Javed: “The power went out around one. It was a power cut. The fire brigade told us [about the fire.] It was fully evacuated.”
MyLondon reporter Alistair Lockhart at the scene described a 'pretty strong smell of smoke', while there remains a number of firefighters. It appears the blaze is under control though.
The LFB said: "Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters have been called to a fire at an electrical substation on Castor Lane in Poplar. Part of the ground floor of a two-storey electrical substation is alight. A 25-metre cordon is in place as a precaution. Around 100 people were evacuated from an adjacent depot and 1500 students were evacuated from a college at the rear of the substation."
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
Drivers are facing an evening of disruption across East London tonight after a power cut which left 38,000 Londoners without power today - engineers are still working to fix the issue. Dark red across the map shows where log-jams are at their slowest, moving toward green where traffic eases.
Photos from MyLondon readers show the effects of a blackout which has left over 38,000 Londoners without power today. It is now over four hours since the first reports of a power cut appeared on social media. The London Fire Brigade have blamed it on a fire at an electrical substation in Poplar.
A blackout across East London has caused the Docklands Light Railway to grind to a halt as 38,000 Londoners have been left without power since around 12:30pm today (March 29).
The power cut was caused by a fire at an electrical substation in Poplar, East London, according to the London Fire Brigade. You can read more about it here.
There is traffic chaos due to the closure of the Blackwall, Rotherhithe, and Limehouse link tunnels after a power cut caused by a fire in Poplar, East London.
Firefighters are still tackling a blaze at an electrical substation on Castor Lane which caused the entire DLR to be suspended earlier today. You can read more about it here.
There is traffic chaos on both sides of the river across East London as the power cut has forced the closure of the Rotherhithe, Blackwall, and Limehouse link tunnels.
Traffic service Inrix said: "A101 Rotherhithe Tunnel in both directions closed, queueing traffic due to power failure from Rotherhithe ( Rotherhithe ) to Limehouse (Limehouse). Congestion to either side of the river, with delays building along the A13 and the A200.
"A102 Blackwall Tunnel in both directions closed long delays, queueing traffic due to power failure from Poplar ( Poplar ) to Greenwich ( Greenwich ). Congestion to either side of the river with delays between the Bow Interchange and Kidbrooke Interchange, further delays through Deptford , Greenwich , Charlton and Woolwich as people divert.
"A1203 Limehouse Link Tunnel in both directions closed, queueing traffic due to emergency repairs from A1261 Aspen Way ( Poplar ) to Butcher Row (Limehouse). Congestion to Waterloo Bridge via The Highway and Lower Thames Street. Further delays on Tower Bridge and back to Canning Town."
A map by UK Power Networks show much of London is still in blackout after a power cut which started around 12:30pm. Firefighters are battling a blaze in Poplar, East London, where an electrical substation is on fire. The DLR has now re-opened with minor delays.
The East London power cut which has left over 38,000 Londoners in the dark was caused by a fire at an electrical substation in Poplar, East London, according to the London Fire Brigade.
Firefighters are still at the scene battling to put out the blaze which has left the DLR suspended and both Blackwall and Rotherhithe Tunnels closed. You can read more about it here.
A LFB spokesperson said: "Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters have been called to a fire at an electrical substation on Castor Lane in Poplar. Part of the ground floor of a two-storey electrical substation is alight. A 25-metre cordon is in place as a precaution."
Station Commander Colin Digby, who is at the scene, said: "The fire is causing power outages which could affect around 38,000 customers. The whole of the Docklands Light Railway line is suspended. Blackwall Tunnel and Rotherhithe Tunnel are also closed whilst crews work to make the scene safe."
The Brigade was called at 1248. Fire crews from Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, Shadwell and Plaistow fire stations are at the scene. The cause of the fire is not known at this time.
The Rotherhithe Tunnel is still closed this afternoon as a huge blackout across East London continues. The power cut has lasted nearly two hours after reports first emerged around 12:30pm today. Power Networks UK has said the fault will be fixed by 3pm. The DLR, gas and water supplies, and traffic lights have also been affected.
Inrix traffic service said: "A101 Rotherhithe Tunnel in both directions closed, queueing traffic due to power failure from Rotherhithe (Rotherhithe) to Limehouse (Limehouse)."
The DLR is suspended because of 'faulty communications equipment'. TfL have not confirmed if this relates to the power cut in the area. It said: "Docklands Light Railway: No service while we fix faulty communications equipment. London Underground, Southeastern and C2C accepting tickets via any reasonable route."
The powercut has also frustrated gym goers who have arrived at the gym to find they cannot use the powered machinery.
Finally got myself to the gym after not going for weeks. Two minutes into my run the power went out. No traffic lights on my way home either. pic.twitter.com/Mw6RxY34bN
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UK Power Networks have said today's power cut is due to a 'fault on a high voltage underground electricity cable'. A map created by the company shows areas outside of East London may also have been affected. The fault is expected to be fixed between 2pm and 3pm.
They ask people to keep updated via their website or DM them on Twitter with a full postcode and mobile number for free text updates.
Onlookers have described 'hectic' and 'unsafe' streets as traffic lights have been left useless without power. One woman said: "Oh my God there's a power cut in East London and now all the traffic lights are not working. Oh my God it's hectic."
Others added "Big powercut in east London. All traffic lights out" and "Mega power cut across London. Traffic lights all out - not all that safe out there. Go slow kids."
One woman said: "Big big london having a power cut where traffic lights arent working. I'm not paying taxes again."