Ilfracombe plunged into darkness
ILFRACOMBE was plunged into darkness twice this evening after lightning struck a major power network in the town.
Numerous lightning flashes were followed by loud booming thunder at about 7.30pm when the town blacked out twice within minutes.
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Ilfracombe Rugby Club captain Leo Cooper was training with the team at Brimlands when the floodlights and clubhouse lights went out.
He said: "It was nuts. The weather was already pretty bad and we had noted the lightning a few times before.
"The lights went out once then came back on but the second time they were out for a bit longer so we retired back to the clubhouse."
Ilfracombe Subway manager Jimmy Mathews said: "Everything accept the battery powered till went out - the screen was my only source of light for a while."
A Western Power spokesman said: "The power to the entire town was cut at the Ilfracombe primary substation due to the storm.
"Lightning had hit the 33,000 volt network and the power automatically disconnected for about 10 seconds on each occasion.
"It is rare for a whole town to black out but power cuts like these are fairly routine. It is nothing to worry about."
11 Comments
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by Darren Maidment, Braunton
Thursday, November 05 2009, 10:23AM
“I didnt realize kids and babies needed to boil the elderly”
by Tom, Devon
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 8:58PM
“Some people are so small minded that they don't see the possible BIG PICTURE and the whole aspect of the report. Imagine if it happend for far longer? In Wollacombe it went on for 20 minutes, but what if it was a Week? what would you do then, all those kids, babies needing boiled water, warmth, elderly...”
by dave, north devon
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 5:00PM
“Wouldn't it be better if Ilfracombe was plunged into darkness for ever?!!”
by Katie Mallett, Ilfracombe
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 4:53PM
“So if the whole of Barnstaple was suddenly plunged into darkness, would that be worth reporting? It was pretty dramatic when everthing went black. I've never seen anything like it before, and I come from the metropolis of Southend on Sea where a great deal more happens than down here.”
by leanne carter, combe martin
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 3:18PM
“Well, they do have a point, the switch got tripped for 10 seconds twice.......And?”
by Mr Big., Devon.
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 1:16PM
“More comments from N. Devons finest.
JayOK and Harry Hill please tell your audience why you bothered reading the article if it is so boring.”
by Harry Hill, God knows
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 12:40PM
“I thought Ilfracombe was somewhere near Liverpool, so why are the Journal making a story of it.
Anyway there are power cuts all the time. Do we need to know about this one in particular for some unknown reason.”
by The Boss, Devon
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 11:12AM
“JayOK the worlds most boring moaning person around”
by JayOK, Ilfracombe
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 10:39AM
“What a massive news story. The power went out for half a minute - WOW!”
by Andy, North devon
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 9:32AM
“didn't know ilfracombe had electric yet!!”