Thousands Endure Heat as Power Outages Halt Air Conditioning
In Perth’s northern suburbs, thousands faced power outages as temperatures soared above 40°C on Monday. Over 3,300 homes in areas such as Scarborough, Trigg, Doubleview, Woodlands, and Karrinyup were impacted shortly after noon. Western Power estimated that power would be restored by 5:30 PM.
Impact on Local Schools
The outage affected several schools, including St John’s School, which confirmed their power was lost for over an hour. Principal Lisa Italiano stated that the school took necessary measures to ensure students remained cool and safe during the outage. The wellbeing of students and staff was prioritized, adhering to Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA) policies.
Both Doubleview Primary School and Scarborough Primary School reported no disruption to their services.
Power Restoration Efforts
By 2 PM, power had been restored to most homes, with only 159 residents still without electricity by 2:12 PM. A spokesperson for Western Power mentioned that investigations into the cause of the outage were ongoing. Although the exact cause remains unknown, efforts to restore power were progressing rapidly.
- Outage time: Approximately 1 hour for affected schools.
- Peak temperature: 41.2°C in Perth.
- Homes affected: Over 3,300 in the northern suburbs.
- Estimated restoration time: 5:30 PM.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure that all residents are served promptly. The impact of the heatwave, coupled with the power outages, highlights the challenges faced during such extreme weather events.
