14.08.2006

Crane boom puts Tokyo in the dark

Tokyo lost most of its power supply during this mornings rush hour after a crane begin transported by barge down the Kyo Edo river while rigged with 33 metres of boom struck two main overhead cables.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. said that the crane barge was operated by general contractor Obayashi Corp and that construction companies, Aoki Gumi and Mikuniya Kensetsu, which were also involved in the accident.

The power company says it is likely to seek compensation from the contractors but did not say how much it would demand.

The accident occurred at 7:38 a.m. local time and cut electricity to about 1.39 million households in Tokyo and the suburbs of Chiba and Kanagawa. The underground rail system and Tokyo stock exchange were among those affected.

Power was restored to most of the Tokyo area about two hours after the blackout struck.

According to radio reports, the construction workers aboard the barge did not realize that the crane’s boom was raised too high. "We heard a huge explosion. After the crane hit the power lines the second time, and we saw blue sparks,'' said a witness on the radio..