Chaos as massive power failure hits New York

A power failure in New York has halted subway trains and trapped people in lifts.

Street lights and traffic lights have been put out of action.

Several Broadway shows canceled their Saturday night performances, including Hamilton, Hadestown, Aladdin, Frozen, Ain’t Too Proud to Beg and The Cher Show.

The local energy company Con Edison said about 72,000 people had been deprived of power.

The CEO of New York City’s utility company, Con Edison,  John McAvoy said the cause was still under investigation, but said it was unlikely to be a manhole fire or an excessive load of power.

The power went out at 6:47 p.m. from West 42nd St. to West 72nd St. and from 5th Ave. west to the Hudson River. As of 10:30 p.m., five of the six networks had been restored, McAvoy said.

The electricity cuts come on the anniversary of a massive power failure in 1977 that plunged the New York skyline into darkness and triggered widespread looting and arson.

Via CBS