Fire and explosions at main transformer substation in Diyarbakır, Turkey

What happened

A fire broke out at the main transformer substation of an electricity distribution company at Seyrantepe, in the Yenişehir district of Diyarbakır, Turkey. Explosions followed the fire at the substation. Residents recorded the blasts on mobile phones. Due to the explosions, a power outage occurred in part of the city. In an information message sent to customers after the outage, the distribution company said that an outage had occurred at the main substation serving their area and that work to restore supply was continuing in coordination with the relevant authority.

The source does not give the date of the incident, the cause of the fire, the number of customers affected, any injuries, or the time taken to restore supply.

Lessons learned

1. Transformer fires can lead to explosions that spread beyond the substation and cut supply to a wide area, so operators should review fire detection, suppression, oil containment and separation distances at major substations.
2. Customer messages after an outage should state clearly what kind of disruption has occurred and how supply will be restored.
3. Operators should maintain emergency plans for coordinated restoration with fire services and local authorities, so that supply can be restored safely after a substation fire.

More lessons on detection and monitoring, outages, backup supply and restoration, fire suppression and firefighting, from every incident on the register.

Source

evrensel.net