AROUND 54,000 properties in the south west of England are currently without power after Storm Eunice caused widespread disruption across the region yesterday.
Western Power Distribution, which provides power to the Midlands, south west and Wales, says it is “working hard” to restore electricity to customers and “will keep working until the lights are back on for everyone”.
An interactive map on its website shows there are properties without power across the county.
Affected areas include Taunton, the Quantock Hills, Bridgwater, Weston-super-Mare, and Burnham and Highbridge.
In some areas, power is not estimated to be restored until around 6pm.
Last night at around 1:30am, police officers were on the scene at The Hill in Langport, which was closed due to fallen power lines.
There are currently no reports of power cuts in Langport after Western Power Distribution staff 'worked tirelessly to ensure the lines were safe'.
As of 9am today, Western Power Distribution said it had restored power to around 435,000 customers and said around 72,000 were off supply across its network.
It said additional teams were being moved into the worst-affected areas to help with efforts to restore supplies and a helicopter unit has been deployed to speed the process up.
We're aware of continued localised powercuts across #Somerset. If you are in need of urgent assistance, please contact Western Power Distribution on 105.
— Avon and Somerset Police (@ASPolice) February 18, 2022
Please check on friends and neighbours, especially if they're vulnerable.
For live updates: https://t.co/bEu3fbgzI5 pic.twitter.com/mLzR7W7UJx
Graham Halliday, Western Power Distribution operations director, said: “I would like to reassure customers that we are working as hard as we can to restore supplies and our dedicated teams will keep working until the lights are back on for everyone.
“I would like to thank customers for their patience and support during these particularly challenging conditions.
“If you see damage to our equipment or spot electricity poles or power lines that are down, please stay clear of them and call 105.”
Western Power Distribution’s contact team has taken over 133,000 calls related to power cuts, and a further 195,000 reports have been made on its website.
It is liaising with the British Red Cross, which is providing welfare support.
Several road closures have also been reported across the county due to fallen trees, while work is ongoing to clear railway tracks across the south west.
Have you been affected by power cuts in Somerset?
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