Blackout affects millions in northwestern Turkey

ISTANBUL - Agence France-Presse

Trams and metro trains stopped working during the blackout in Istanbul. AA photo

An extensive power outage in northwestern Turkey left five major cities without electricity yesterday and stopped metro and tram services in Istanbul.
 
Tourists in Istanbul's historic Grand Bazaar struggled in the dark to find their way out, an AFP reporter at the scene said.
 
The blackout affected more than 10 districts of Istanbul, a city of almost 15 million people, as well as provinces of Izmit, Adapazarı, Edirne, Kırklareli and Tekirdağ in the industrialised northwest, media reports said.
 
In Istanbul, taxis doubled their fares after the metro and tramways stopped around midday, residents complained.
 
"It is a technical problem, it will be handled shortly," Istanbul governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu told news website hurriyet.com.tr.
 
The power outage was caused by breakdowns at three different spots, including the energy transfer line connecting the European and Asian sides of Istanbul, it said.
 
Power has been restored in some areas, it said.