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Hanoi residents, firms struggle with blackouts amid heatwave

Hanoi residents, firms struggle with blackouts amid heatwave

Sunday, June 04, 2023, 19:21 GMT+7
Hanoi residents, firms struggle with blackouts amid heatwave
A security guard of a company in Hoai Duc District, Hanoi works in a narrow room. He must use a paper fan during a power cut. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre

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.

A filling station shuts down in Hanoi due to a blackout. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre

A filling station shuts down in Hanoi due to a blackout. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre

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.

A power outage forces Hue, a chef in the Lai Yen Industrial Cluster in Hanoi, and many other workers to suspend their work and sit on a sidewalk to escape heat. Photo: Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre

A power outage forces Hue, a chef in the Lai Yen Industrial Cluster in Hanoi, and many other workers to suspend their work and sit on a sidewalk to escape heat. Photo: Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre

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.

30 concrete mixer trucks of Viet Tiep concrete factory in the Lai Yen Industrial Cluster in Hanoi are left idle, while dozens of workers of the factory cannot work due to power cuts. Photo: Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre

Thirty concrete mixer trucks of Viet Tiep concrete factory in the Lai Yen Industrial Cluster in Hanoi are left idle, while dozens of workers of the factory cannot work due to power cuts. Photo: Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre

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.

Power generators are a temporary solution of companies in Hanoi. Photo: Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre

Power generators are a temporary solution of companies in Hanoi. Photo: Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre

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.

A trade center in Long Bien District, Hanoi City has opened a room equipped with an air conditioner for local residents. Photo: Supplied by the trade center

A trade center in Long Bien District, Hanoi has opened a room equipped with an air conditioner for local residents. Photo: Supplied by the trade center

More chairs are added at the lobby of the trade center to serve local residents. Photo: Supplied by the trade center

More chairs are added to the lobby of the trade center to serve local residents. Photo: Supplied by the trade center

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.

Workers rush to shady places to escape the hot weather in Hanoi while their factories suffer power cuts. Photo: Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre

Workers rush to shady places to escape the hot weather in Hanoi while their factories suffer power cuts. Photo: Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre

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."

The combination of the hot weather and power outages is terrible. Photo: Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre

The combination of the hot weather and power outages is terrible. Photo: Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre

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

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Thanh Ha - Pham Tuan - Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre News

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