Long power cuts made life harder for residents and enterprises in suburban areas of Hanoi amid the scorching weather on Saturday.

Residents sought ways to escape the heatwave while many enterprises suspended their operations during the blackouts.

In particular, part of Lai Yen Commune, Hoai Duc District suffered a power outage, causing many enterprises and business establishments to close.

The Trung Yen gas station in the Lai Yen Industrial Cluster in the namesake commune erected the 'out of gasoline' sign from the early morning until afternoon on Saturday due to the power cut.

Hue, a chef in the Lai Yen Industrial Cluster, said it was extremely hot during power cuts and she could not prepare meals for workers.

Two ventilation fans, an evaporative cooler, and an industrial fan are normally needed while she is cooking.

“I cannot cook without electricity. I have to buy noodles for workers. After the meal, they cannot do anything [as there is no power],” she complained.

Hue added that there were power cuts in some communes of Hoai Duc District at midnight, forcing many laborers to sleep at their companies to escape the heat at their homes during the power cuts.

At Viet Tiep concrete factory in the Lai Yen Industrial Cluster, 30 concrete mixer trucks were left idle due to power outages.

Security guards and workers of the factory also sat idle.

More than 100 workers of Poshaco Korea Vietnam Insulation Panel Joint Stock Company in Hoai Duc District were off work due to a blackout.

Its power generator can serve administrative staff only.

However, eight employees used only a small electric fan in a 30-square-meter room.

The power disruption also hit residents in Long Bien District, Hanoi.

A trade center on Co Linh Street in Long Bien District has opened a room equipped with an air conditioner for local residents.

The trade center has also added chairs to its lobby to serve passers-by.

These areas are often crowded with people.

Dao Phuong Anh, a Hanoi resident, said the trade center provided locals with a place to escape the hot weather during repeated power cuts in the capital city.

The scorching weather has sent the capital’s power consumption rising 22.5 percent in May over the previous month, according to the Hanoi Power Corporation.

“The long-lasting searing heat has sent the power consumption surging, posing a high risk of incidents, even blazes and explosions," the corporation announced.

“To ensure the safety of the power system, some areas in Hanoi will suffer urgent blackouts."

It hoped for sympathy from customers and encouraged residents and enterprises to use electricity sparingly and effectively.

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