This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/nationwide-blackout-throws-turkey-into-chaos-10145504.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Nationwide blackout throws Turkey into chaos Nationwide blackout throws Turkey into chaos
(35 minutes later)
A nationwide blackout across Turkey has thrown the country into chaos.A nationwide blackout across Turkey has thrown the country into chaos.
Several provinces, including Istanbul and Ankara, have been hit by the massive power outage. Power outages have been reported in dozens of cities throughout the country due to a fault on power transmission lines, according to Turkey's Electricity Transmission Company TEİAŞ's statement.
Officials said a technical problem in the system of the Turkish Electricity Conduction Company (TEİAŞ), which operates energy transmission lines, has led to the blackout. Prime minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said that a crisis-desk at the Ministry of Energy has been established.
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has announced in a statement that metro and tram services had been halted as a result. He added: "We're considering all probabilities behind nationwide power outage, including terrorism."
Twitter user @metesohtaoglu posted this picture of the metro In the western province of Kocaeli, one of the industrial centers of Turkey, several factories stopped production in the morning as most of the province was affected by the blackout. Energy minister Taner Yıldız said that the fault was restored in some provinces as of midday.
Due to the allegations that the fault was a cyber attack, Mr Yıldız said: "We cannot confirm whether power outage was a cyber or terrorist attack."
Istanbul's metro, tram and Marmaray services have come to a halt due to the blackout.
Twitter user @metesohtaoglu posted this picture of the metro Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality announced on Twitter that metro and tram services, along with Marmaray, had stopped due to the power outage. All passengers were successfully evacuated from metro lines.
Traffic lights are also out of service in Istanbul, causing traffic jam in central neighborhoods.
Around 25 cities reported a power outage including Ankara, İzmir, Antalya and Adana.
There have been reports of power outages in various shopping centres.
Turkey is currently experiencing electricity outages in many regions due to transmission line problems which occurred at 10.3am, Turkish Electricity Transmission Company, TEİAŞ officials said.
In the western province of Kocaeli, one of the industrial centers of Turkey, several factories stopped production in the morning as most of the province was affected by the blackout.
Local reports of a "huge explosion" in Kocaeli have not been confirmed.Local reports of a "huge explosion" in Kocaeli have not been confirmed.
The blackout is reportedly affecting flights across the country Italian photojournalist Piero Castellano, who is living in Ankara, Turkey, said: “I’m currently trying to direct my friends to shops where they could buy solar chargers.The blackout is reportedly affecting flights across the country Italian photojournalist Piero Castellano, who is living in Ankara, Turkey, said: “I’m currently trying to direct my friends to shops where they could buy solar chargers.
“There has been no explanation yet. I’ve seen online that the blackout spans 24 regions.“There has been no explanation yet. I’ve seen online that the blackout spans 24 regions.
“The Istanbul metro, tramway and sub-Bosphorus Marmaray rail line are all down.” “The Istanbul metro, tramway and sub-Bosphorus Marmaray rail line are all down."
There is currently no electricity in at least 20 cities, including Istanbul.
 
Turkish Airlines plane forced to land after bomb threat  Turkish Airlines plane forced to land after bomb threat