MALAITA’S provincial capital Auki has been without electricity since Monday afternoon this week.
The power black-out, caused by mechanical fault to Solomon Power’s generator, has seriously affected the town’s residents and businesses.
The incident has forced businesses depending on electricity to suspend operations over the past days, caused inactivity by government offices and other organizations operating in the provincial capital, affected daily schooling activities, puts hospitals and clinics at risk, and causing a massive dilemma for the city dwellers.
Reports received atthe Solomon Star office in Auki confirmed the blackout.
“The electricity went off suddenly at around 4pm on Monday,” Solomon Star’s reporter in Auki, Wilson BiriauSaeni, said.
“We enquired on Tuesday to find out when the power will be restored but received uncertain responds from officers manning the power station,” he said.
“Today (yesterday) we checked again, but they said they could not confirm when the electricity will be fully restored.”
The situation has left the town in total darkness during the nights, raising security fears.
A number of business houses have complained the impact the power outage has had on their businesses.
Fishermen from the nearby Langalanga lagoon say they could not buy ice cubes to preserve their catches.
A relative of a man suspected to have lost his life yesterday at the Kilu’ufi hospital as a result of the blackout also told the Solomon Star in Auki that this issue is now getting worse than expected.
“Kilu’ufi hospital is worried about the situation because medicines that are kept under cool temperatures are at risk,” a Kilu’ufi hospital spokesman said.
Solomon Power yesterday confirmed the blackout.
In a statement, it said the situation was a result of a mechanical fault and a team from Honiara has been dispatched to Auki to rectify the issue.
“Solomon Power regretfully advices the public in and around Auki that a mechanical breakdown on two of its main generators has caused power outage throughout Auki town.
“A team from Honiara has been sent to assist in restoring power in Auki, however due to the extensive damage to the engines; power at Auki may not be available within the next 48 hours.
“Customers are encouraged to use standby measures at these times,” the statement said.
By RONALD TOITO’ONA