Blackout fears in Tokyo rise on record-hot day as power plant fails

Ongoing concerns over a blackout in Tokyo were further raised on Thursday as a thermal power plant in northeast Japan was taken offline due to a technical glitch.

This was due as the mercury in the heatwave-hit capital soared to levels not seen in June in almost 150 years.

The operator of the Nakoso coal- and oil-fired power plant in Fukushima Prefecture, Joban Joint Power Co., said at around 3:00 a.m. local time.

The plant’s No. 9 unit was shut down after a ventilator was found to be vibrating.

The plant’s operator said it aimed to bring the plant back online and would restart supplying power to its service area, which covered a sizable expanse of eastern Japan including Tokyo.

Japan’s industry ministry said there was no imminent risk of a blackout even as demand for power in Tokyo surged as temperatures hit 36.4 degrees Celsius.

The highest on record for June since 1875 when record-keeping began, Japan’s weather agency said.

The government for a fourth straight day had issued an advisory warning for Tokyo and surrounding areas of a possible power crunch if businesses and residents don’t follow the required measures to conserve energy.

Specifically, the industry ministry warned that a surge in demand for air-conditioners amid the steering heat could lead to a power shortage.

As wide-swathes of the country were experiencing a scorching heatwave, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and environment industry issued a heatstroke alert.

JMA strongly advised people to stay hydrated and remove masks when outside in both eastern and western Japan.

The JMA said  the mercury topped the 35 degrees Celsius in areas north of Toky.

It also included Saitama and Gunma Prefecture, while the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said 4,551 people were hospitalised for heatstroke or heat exhaustion nationwide for the week ended Sunday.

The figure, it said, was quadruple that of heat-related illnesses logged the same period a year ago.