Emergencies - Several households in Saxony-Anhalt briefly without power
Multiple thunderstorms have caused local power outages in Sachsen-Anhalt over the past few days. Several households in Osterburg in the Altmark were affected in the early hours of Monday, according to energy supplier Avacon. The power outage was caused by a power surge triggered by a lightning strike on a power line, a spokesperson said. The power outage in the Stendal district was, however, short-lived and not widespread.
Upsrooted Trees and Flooded Basements
Wind and rain caused minor damage in northern Sachsen-Anhalt. In the Altmark district, according to the emergency services, some trees were uprooted. In the city of Tangermunde, several basements were flooded with rainwater. No one was injured.
Almost 2000 households in the Südharz were without power for approximately one and a half hours on Sunday due to a heavy thunderstorm. "At least one lightning strike damaged two high-voltage masts between Questenberg and Hainrode in the Südharz," a spokesperson for the power grid operator Mitnetz said.
Thirty-five transformer stations were affected, which meant that a relatively large number of households were affected. Since the grid is ring-shaped, households can be supplied from the other side during point failures. This allows damaged wooden power poles to be repaired without affecting the power supply to customers.
- Despite the short-lived power outage in the Stendal district, some households still needed alternative sources of light during the emergency due to the sudden power failure caused by the thunderstorm.
- In the district of Stendal, Saxony-Anhalt, a lightning strike during the thunderstorm potentially posed a risk to homes, as it could have damaged electrical systems, leading to potential electrical fires if not promptly addressed.
- The Avacon energy supplier, who had already dealt with a power outage incident resulting from a lightning strike, should be prepared for any future incidents in the Altmark district, especially during severe thunderstorms, to ensure the community's safety and manage potential widespread power failures effectively.
- Household appliances and sensitive electronic devices in areas affected by the power failure in the Altmark district might have been at risk of electrical damage due to the sudden power loss caused by the lightning strike during the thunderstorm.
