Nuke incident shuts off Hamburg traffic lights

Published: 4 Jul 09 21:07 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20090704-20385.html

Hundreds of traffic lights in Hamburg stopped working Saturday after a power cut caused by an incident at a nuclear power station, an energy company said.

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Around 1,500 of the 1,800 traffic signals in Germany's second biggest city suddenly blacked out and lights at shopping centres also failed.

An incident at a transformer of the Kruemmel power station triggered the blackout, said a spokesman from Swedish firm Vattenfall, which runs the plant.

There were also power cuts on Wednesday thought to have been caused by a transformer from the plant, which is close to the northern port city.

The plant only reopened within the past fortnight after a two-year shutdown triggered by a fire.

The fire in 2007, and incidents at the Vattenfall-run nuclear plant Brunsbuettel in the same year, drew criticism in Germany at the time.

AFP (news@thelocal.de)

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Your comments about this article:

21:57 July 5, 2009 by auniquecorn

Thought to have been caused by a transformer from the plant? The plant only reopened within the past fortnight after a two-year shutdown triggered by a fire?

The fire in 2007, and other incidents at the Vattenfall-run nuclear plant Brunsbuettel in the same year? drew criticism in Germany at the time?

HHMMmm, Well the people did´nt lose their jobs, Thank God.

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01:14 July 6, 2009 by nepo77

I saw the movie, its true, those Transformers do silly things!

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18:04 July 6, 2009 by Genie

Countdown to this being lobbed as a "Nucular incident" to be used ad nauseum in the war against nucular power.

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18:27 July 6, 2009 by AncientBrit

Hundreds of traffic lights in Hamburg stopped working Saturday ...

Did this improve the traffic flow within the city, make all road users more aware of other road users' needs and reduce accidents, I wonder?

There are those who think a city without traffic lights and traffic signs is a better place...

Report abuse »

18:36 July 6, 2009 by Chelle63

Some pedestrians were just walking across streets and car drivers honking at them, was quite funny but 5 mins later the signals were up and running where I was at?. so all was good?no major problems thank god it was the weekend not during rush hour or we could have had mayhem of sorts?

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