By Ciaran O’Neill
coneill@derrynews.net
EMERGENCY services were stretched to the limit on Saturday during a massive power cut in Derry.
Up to 40,000 homes and businesses across the city had their electricity cut during the power cut, with some having to wait more than two hours to have power restored.
It was the largest power cut to hit the city in many years and the impact was particularly felt by local businesses on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
The power was cut at approximately 4.40pm on Saturday.
Some homes in the Waterside had their electricity restored at around 5.30pm.
However, the majority of homes and businesses did not their power restored to nearer 7pm.
A Northern Ireland Electricity spokeswoman yesterday said the power cut was caused by a fault on its overhead network.
She added that an investigation was ongoing into what caused the fault.
As a result of the power cut, many alarms at local business premises went off, forcing the Fire Service to attend to check out the premises.
A spokesman for the Fire Service in Derry said they attended 15 such call-outs during the power cut, along with a wide range of other emergencies.
Many businesses are today also counting the cost of the electricity cut.
A large number of shops had to close down early on Saturday and all local restaurants had to delay opening up on their busiest night of the week.
Des Farrell, manager of Foyleside Shopping Centre, said it was a situation that local retailers could have done without.
“We have our own back up and were able to keep our own lights on,” said Mr Farrell.