Breda, Netherlands - A major power outage struck the city of Breda on the morning of February 7, affecting nearly 30,000 households and businesses. The incident began shortly after 8:15 AM and lasted for approximately two hours, with power being fully restored by 10:00 AM.
According to the local utility provider, Enexis, the outage was concentrated primarily in the neighborhoods of Haagse Beemden, Geeren, De Waterdonken, Hoge Vught, and parts of Prinsenbeek. Traffic signals across the city were rendered non-operational, leading to significant traffic disruption. Reports highlighted incidents of confusion at major intersections as police urged residents to exercise caution on the roads.
At the Breda Central Station, the power failure caused the information boards to go dark, and entry gates remained open, causing passengers difficulties as they attempted to navigate their journeys without functional ticketing systems. A representative from Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), Willemijn Weinands, indicated, "Reizigers die geen kaartje kunnen kopen op station Breda, mogen de trein instappen," allowing travelers to board without tickets amid unease.
The outages were traced back to issues within the middenspanningsdeel of the high-voltage transformation station located on Terheijdenseweg. This facility processes electricity from high to medium voltage. Enexis technicians quickly mobilized to rectify the situation and implemented the installation of a reserve transformer to restore service to affected areas.
At least seven individuals were reported to have been trapped in elevators as the outage unfolded. A spokesperson from the regional safety organization deemed this number "heel veel," emphasizing the unusual nature of the incidents. Fire services were actively dispatched to extricate those stranded, managing to free them safely and restore normalcy to their situations.
During this period, several local businesses faced operational challenges, with many unable to conduct transactions due to losses of power. Supermarkets such as Lidl and Jumbo were forced to close, and educational institutions like Newmancollege had to send students home as power outages disrupted classes.
Despite the extensive nature of the failure, the Amphia hospital confirmed it had maintained its operations without interference, relying on backup systems to continue delivering emergency services. An official statement noted, "Dat betekent dat onze zorg volgens afspraak blijft doorgaan," assuring the public of their readiness to tackle medical emergencies during times of crisis.
With power gradually being restored across the northern and central parts of Breda, residents expressed mixed feelings of relief and frustration. Many took to social media to share their experiences, alerting fellow citizens to the outages and exchanging tips on how to cope during the temporary disconnection from the grid.
Once the situation stabilized, the local police reiterated their advice for road safety. They emphasized the importance of vigilance as many traffic lights remained offline, leading to hazardous conditions. Authorities encouraged drivers to heed all road signs and proceed with caution during what could continue to be chaotic driving conditions.
Overall, timely responses from Enexis, the police, and the emergency services helped mitigate the impacts of the outage, illustrating the importance of preparedness and quick action during municipal power failures. Residents were advised to remain vigilant and report any subsequent issues as the utility company monitored the electricity supply for stability.
This incident serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of urban infrastructure and the need for continuous maintenance and upgrades to support increasing demands for power supply. The swift restoration of power not only marks the resilience of the city’s systems but also reassures the community about the reliability of their local services.
Although the day began with unforeseen challenges, the collective efforts of Bredanaars and city officials propelled them toward safety and normalcy, with plans for thorough evaluations underway to ascertain the underlying causes of the power failure.