South Australia Power Grid Failure Follows Severe Weather Event
- Reports
- 2
- Developments
- 1
- Repetition
- 50%
New informationRepeats or wire copies
What happened
A low-pressure system, described as a one-in-50 year event, moved across South Australia on September 28, 2016, bringing severe weather including supercell thunderstorms. The weather caused widespread damage, including the demolition of five transmission towers and critical transmission lines, leading to the isolation of South Australia from the main grid. The incident also affected the Flinders Medical Centre, where a diesel backup system failed, leading to the relocation of 17 intensive care patients.
From smh.com.au
Why it matters
The power outage was linked to 80,000 recorded lightning strikes. While the power was restored for some areas within hours, others required days. The operational failures also impacted a fertility clinic, resulting in the loss of embryos, and the contents of a zinc smelter in Port Pirie solidified.
From smh.com.au
Who's involved
- Barnaby JoycePolitician who commented on the power failure and its causes.
- Flinders Medical CentrePublic hospital affected by the power failure and backup system failure.
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The entities involved
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Barnaby Joyce
Australian politician, 17th Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
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Josh Frydenberg
Australian politician and federal treasurer
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Flinders Medical Centre
public hospital in Bedford Park, Australia
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