A massive power outage affecting downtown DC and including the White House has shut down traffic signals and much of the Federal government's Federal triangle office complex on this Friday the 13th.

Riders on Metro experienced delays and dark stations due to the power outage and a separate fire on the tracks, while sixty traffic signals are still out around DC. Dupont Circle Metro station has been closed, due to the fact that the 188 foot-long escalators are not functioning. One man was hospitalized after reporting heart problems as a result of ascending the escalators, and fire officials treated nine others for being overheated. Dupont Circle is the deepest station in the system, and climbing the escalators from top to bottom is the equivalent of climbing an 18-story building.

Pepco (the utility company for the District) is unsure as to when services will be rest of the District. Their own headquarters was affected by the outage.

Live Coverage:
WTOP
Washington Post
WMATA (Metro)
DC Government

Updated at 6/13/2008 @ 11:22 am Power has been restored and Metro Center has reopened after a closure from a second fire. Dupont Circle is also open.

10:11 am | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Electricity, Metro, Washington, DC