31 Jan 2019

Power restored after mass outages across Sydney

4:44 pm on 31 January 2019

A major power outage in Sydney's east which affected 45,000 properties, trapping people in elevators and causing traffic chaos, is now over.

A view of Sydney.

A major power outage has affected those in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Photo: 123rf

Power supply was cut about 11:30am [1.30pm NZT] to homes and businesses in Randwick, Bondi Junction, Bondi, Kensington, Waverley, Double Bay, Woollahra, Bronte, Bellevue Hill, Clovelly, Coogee and Rose Bay, before being restored a short time ago.

Authorities said 23 traffic lights were out in the affected area and police warned people driving in the area to be cautious.

Ausgrid spokeswoman Michelle Stone said the cause of the outage was not yet known.

"We are investigating the situation, we're going to update people as soon as possible," she said.

Sydney is in the middle of a heatwave, with temperatures hitting 35.2 degrees at Sydney Airport just before midday.

Patients at the Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick said they were sitting in the dark.

-ABC