Sao Paulo blackout leaves 1.4M without power, hundreds of flights canceled

SAO PAULO AP More than million Sao Paulo residents had no electricity on Thursday after strong winds caused several trees to collapse onto the Brazilian metropolis grid the day before Local personnel stated there were no injuries but almost flights were canceled Utility Enel has provided no deadline for services to return One of its directors Marcelo Puertas advised journalists the Italian company has people working to solve the issue since winds of about kilometers per hour miles started hitting Sao Paulo Sao Paulo city hall commented trees have fallen due to what it calls effects of an extratropical cyclone formed in the south of Brazil Aviation officials say the greater part of the canceled flights were at the local Congonhas airport but added that Guarulhos International Airport outside the city was also affected Mayor Ricardo Nunes whose administration is responsible for trimming the trees that were pushed against the grid notified journalists Wednesday night he had communicated the company that it was not putting all of its efforts to fix the problems Every time something happens we are left behind without electricity reported Nunes who called the Italian utility company irresponsible The grid s status on Wednesday was even worse with more than million Sao Paulo residents without electricity On Thursday several cars with the Enel logo were filmed in the company s parking lot in downtown Sao Paulo which further enraged residents and functionaries Water utility Sabesp declared in a announcement on Thursday that the lack of electricity is already affecting their services too as pumps are not working adequately Source