Prague power outage disrupts trams, traffic lights and Parliament

A widespread power outage hit parts of Prague on Friday morning, November 6, disrupting public transport, traffic signals, and parliamentary proceedings. The blackout primarily affected Prague 5 and Prague 6, with electricity supplier PRE initially expecting power to be restored around 11 a.m.

According to Czech Radio, the outage began at approximately 9:30 a.m. following a technical fault at the Praha Západ electrical substation.

Firefighters responded to an initial report of an explosion at a transformer station, but subsequently attributed the incident to an incorrect remote switching operation. Authorities said there was no indication of an attack or security breach.

The outage has primarily affected neighborhoods on the western side of the Vltava, including Střešovice, Dejvice, and Dědina.

The affected area also includes Prague's Central Military Hospital.

The disruption has extended beyond residential buildings, affecting public transport and road traffic. Firefighters reported five incidents involving people trapped in elevators, while tram services experienced interruptions.

Police also warned that traffic lights had stopped working at some intersections in Prague 5 and Prague 6, urging drivers to exercise additional caution and follow officers' instructions.

Residents can check the latest information through PREdistribuce's electricity network status page.

The outage also reached the Chamber of Deputies in Malá Strana, forcing lawmakers to interrupt Friday morning's session.

Only emergency lighting remained operational inside the parliamentary building on Sněmovní Street, with other electrical equipment temporarily out of service.

Firefighters have advised people in affected areas to conserve their mobile phone batteries and disconnect electrical appliances to prevent potential damage when power returns.

Residents can also switch off their main circuit breaker as a precaution.

PRE initially estimated that electricity supplies would be restored around 11 a.m., although the exact timing may vary by location.

This is a developing story. Information reflects reports available on Friday morning, November 6.