Maputo — A major breakdown has deprived parts of Maputo of electricity for most of a day. According to a statement from the publicly owned electricity company EDM, the problem began at about 21.30 on Wednesday night, when large parts of central Maputo were plunged into darkness.

Three breakdowns were detected on a circuit that supplies parts of the neighbourhoods of Malhangalene, Central and COOP. Technicians sent to investigate found that there had been an explosion in a protection unit on one of the transformers, which had then paralysed the functioning of eight transformer posts.

Technical teams were mobilised as a matter of emergency to repair the damage, EDM said. Due to the severity of the problem, work continued throughout the daylight hours of Thursday.

EDM apologised to its clients, assuring them that all was being done to restore the power supply. The company hoped that the repairs would be completed by Thursday evening