A tree downed on a BC Hydro line at the corner of Wakesiah Ave. and Sixth St. is responsible for a significant power outage in south Nanaimo Thursday morning. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)
LIGHTS OFF

Significant power outage hits Harewood, south Nanaimo

Nov 25, 2021 | 9:56 AM

UPDATE 10:48 a.m. — BC Hydro crews have successfully restored power to south Nanaimo after an outage earlier today. Lights were off for just over an hour and a half.

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EARLIER — NANAIMO — A significant power outage is affecting residents in the Harewood and University areas of the city.

Power was cut around 9:08 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 25 after a tree fell on lines at the corner of Wakesiah Ave. and Sixth St. The outage is affecting just under 2,400 BC Hydro customers.

Sixth St. is closed between Hillcrest Ave. and Harewood/Nanaimo Lakes Rd. Vehicles are being detoured around the scene.

A map of a substantial outage in south Nanaimo, affecting roughly 2,400 customers. (BC Hydro)

Nanaimo Fire Rescue arrived on scene shortly after the outage began and are waiting for BC Hydro crews to attend.

Crews on scene told NanaimoNewsNOW there was a public safety risk with a compromised live wire.

Some traffic lights in the area, including Fifth St. and Wakesiah Ave., are defaulting to four-way stop procedure, making traffic slightly slower through the affected area.

Students at area schools, including Nanaimo District Secondary and John Barsby Secondary, are continuing classes during the outage.

Sections of Wakesiah Ave. and Sixth St. were closed after a tree fell across BC Hydro lines early Thursday morning. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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