EGAT restoring power system in Thai Far South after attacks

PATTANI, THAILAND, April 7 (TNA) - The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has sent its teams to urgently restore power supply in Pattani Province in the Thai Far South, following a blackout less than an hour after midnight caused by suspected insurgent attacks. EGAT Deputy Governor Suthon Boonprasong told journalists on Friday morning that the partial blackout occurred in Pattani at around 0:40am earlier in the day. Suthon said an initial inspection found that high-voltage power cables in the province were damaged by suspected insurgent attacks, leading to the blackout in almost all areas of the province. Suthon stressed that EGAT has cooperated with local security officers to send maintenance teams to repair the provincial power system, as the site is located in a sensitive area at risk. According to the EGAT deputy governor, the power system in Pattani could be partly restored and electricity has already been distributed to half of the province. Meanwhile, power plants in the Thai South remain their normal operations amid beefed-up security measures around the clock. (TNA)