Mudslide damages Lyttelton power station
CHARLEY MANN Last updated 13:41 11/04/2012

Electricity may be cut at Lyttelton Port and 1000 homes after a mudslide in Lyttelton damaged a power station today.

The slip above Simeon Quay was triggered by heavy rain and has damaged the wall and roof of Orion's Lyttelton substation.

Orion chief executive Rob Jamieson said the damage had not affected the electrical equipment, so power remained on at the moment.

However, heavy rain continues to fall in the area, and 17 millimetres had been recorded in the past 24 hours.

Jamieson said Orion had a two-step process in place to restore power if it was cut.

Diesel generators would be put in place to supply power where possible.

Contractors would dig up and cut existing underground power cables to reconfigure the network.

Orion will provide a further update today.
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STATION DAMAGED: Heavy rain has triggered a mudslide in Lyttelton.