[Fair use for education and research purpose only]

The Straits Times Interactive

South East Asia News

MAY 10, 2000

Title: Thousands hit by Jakarta blackout

JAKARTA -- Hundreds of thousands of people in Jakarta and Tangerang were affected by an electricity failure on Monday.

The loss suffered by customers of state-electricity firm PT PLN during the four-hour blackout could reach billions of rupiah.

There was heavy congestion in the capital's main streets when traffic lights stopped working.

Owners of air-conditioned shops as well as businesses that rely on electricity, such as petrol stations, closed temporarily.

Internet Service Providers were out of action too.

A PLN spokesman said the failure was caused by residents in south Jakarta, who chopped down coconut trees, causing a short circuit. -- The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/asia/sea10_0510.html

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