Major power outage hits large part of Czechia, disrupting transport and services

A large-scale power outage struck much of Czechia on Friday, affecting major cities and several regions, including Prague, Central Bohemia, Ústí nad Labem, Liberec, and Hradec Králové. The outage disrupted public transport, including metro, trams, and rail services, and left parts of the capital without electricity for over half an hour.  Interior Minister Vít Rakušan activated the Central Crisis Staff in response, saying that the government was working to determine the scope and cause of the disruption. Firefighters were dispatched across Prague to rescue people trapped in elevators and respond to reports of smoke caused by backup diesel generators.

According to ČEPS, the national grid operator, the outage was caused by a fallen phase conductor that affected eight substations. Five of them were restored quickly. Despite the blackout, hospitals and prisons switched to backup power systems and continued to operate without major issues. Transport Minister Martin Kupka asked the public for patience, and Prime Minister Petr Fiala called the situation “exceptional,” assuring citizens that restoring electricity remained a top priority. The national cybersecurity agency ruled out a cyberattack as the cause of the failure. Power supply has been gradually returning across the affected areas.