Multiple crashes after traffic lights go out due to blackout

POLICE received reports of several minor crashes as motorists tried to navigate busy intersections during peak hour without traffic lights on Wednesday afternoon.

Traffic lights across Darwin city and its suburbs were out during peak hour. Picture: Che Chorley

• Power outages across Darwin suburbs, Palmerston and Katherine, according to Power and Water
• List of suburbs affected by the mass power outage across the Top End

POLICE received reports of several minor crashes as motorists tried to navigate busy intersections during peak hour without traffic lights yesterday afternoon.

A spokeswoman from NT Police said multiple minor crashes had occurred in the northern suburbs of Darwin during the power outage between about 4pm and 6pm.

She said 32 sets of traffic lights lost power, with police stationed at intersections to direct traffic, remaining there “until the issue was resolved”.

No one was seriously injured in any of the crashes.

The spokeswoman urged motorists to slow down and obey the traffic directions of police and said it was important motorists were also “mindful of police on the roads and slow down when passing them”.

Traffic lights across Darwin city and its suburbs were out during peak hour. Picture: Che Chorley

A spokeswoman for the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics confirmed roads across the whole of the Top End were impacted.

“Police are on major intersections making it as safe as possible,” she said.

She said the department would be able to provide specific numbers today after collating data from the blackout.

Northern Watch Commander Andrew Heath told ABC radio that extra police resources were deployed to help direct traffic.

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According to a tweet from Power and Water Corporation, the “power supply issue” had been resolved at about 6pm, with parts of the Top End progressively having their power restored.

However, some suburbs were still without power about three and a half hours after losing it.