Tel Aviv residents swelter through 20-hour power cut during heatwave

Residents across two central Tel Aviv streets have endured nearly 20 hours without electricity during one of the summer’s most oppressive heatwaves, after a contractor working for the municipality damaged power cables. Those living on King George Street and Bar Giora Street were left without air conditioning as temperatures soared, while local businesses suffered significant losses before power was restored.

The outage occurred when a contractor hired by Tel Aviv’s municipal authorities struck underground electricity cables whilst carrying out work in the area. The incident left hundreds of residents without cooling during peak summer heat, creating dangerous conditions particularly for elderly residents and those with health vulnerabilities.

Business owners in the affected streets reported substantial damage during the extended blackout, with perishable goods spoiling and customers unable to visit shops and restaurants. The extended restoration time compounded the difficulties for local traders already dealing with summer trading challenges.

The incident has raised questions about the safety protocols surrounding utility infrastructure work in densely populated urban areas. Tel Aviv’s municipality has not yet issued a statement regarding compensation for affected residents and business owners or details about how the contractor was selected and supervised.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.