A temporary power outage hit parts of Prague and other areas of the Czech Republic on Friday, bringing public transport and trains to a standstill, officials said.
Prague’s entire metro network was inoperative starting at noon, the capital city’s transport authority said. But the A and C lines were restored in about 15 minutes while the B line was back in about 30 minutes, it said.
Most trams on the right bank of the Vltava River in Prague were halted, while those on the left bank were not affected. Some trains near Prague and in other regions were unable to operate.
The Václav Havel Airport, the capital’s international airport, was not hit by the power outage, according to Czech media.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated in a post on X that the outage affected other parts of the country, and authorities were working to resolve the issue. “We are investigating the causes and solving the problem,” Fiala said.
The regions of Ústí, Liberec and Hradec Králové reported problems with power outages, ČEPS power grid operator and domestic media reported.
Czech hospitals were immediately switched to an emergency power supply, according to Health Minister Vlastimil Valek.
“I want to reassure everyone. Healthcare facilities have clear procedures for such situations. Backup generators have been activated in the affected hospitals. Patient care is not at risk,” Valek wrote in a post on X.
It was not immediately clear what caused the issue. However, officials ruled out a cyber attack.
Earlier this week, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CzHMU) warned that temperatures could reach 37 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country this week.
Authorities have warned of potential dangers associated with high temperatures, including the risk of fires.
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