Transformer explosion at TEİAŞ substation on Silvan road leaves about 80,000 customers without power in Diyarbakır
Oct 2026Published 20 Oct 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
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What happened
At midday, a transformer at the TEİAŞ substation on the Silvan road in Diyarbakır, Turkey, exploded, and smoke from the blast was seen from many parts of the city. Fire and emergency teams were dispatched and the transformer fire was brought under control and extinguished. The source reports that the incident was triggered when an electric cable snapped during road and infrastructure works in the area. The source reports that about 80,000 homes and workplaces across Diyarbakır lost electricity.
Dicle Elektrik crews went to the site immediately and restored supply to a large part of the affected area. The source does not say when supply was fully restored. Repair and maintenance work on the damaged substation was continuing at the time of reporting, and the source says technical teams were on site and the process was being followed closely.
Contributing factors
The source states that a cable snapped during road and infrastructure works near the substation. No information is given on the works contractor, safety controls around the excavation or whether the cable location was marked.
Lessons learned
- Excavation and civil works near live underground cables and substations need verified cable locations, permits and supervision to prevent strikes.
- Substations should have fire suppression, protection and isolation arrangements that contain a transformer failure and limit the area affected.
- Operators should plan restoration crews and temporary supply routes so that a single substation failure does not leave a whole city without power for long periods.
More lessons on worker safety and safe systems of work, fire suppression and firefighting, outages, backup supply and restoration, from every incident on the register.
Source
Other entries that name Diyarbakır
Published 2026-10-20. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
