People stuck in lifts, traffic jams as JB suffers power outage (updated)

JOHOR BARU: Thousands of people have been left stranded after a major power outage occurred in the city area at around 1pm.

The disruption in electricity supply meant traffic lights at many junctions were not functioning, leading to chaos along major roads such as Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Skudai and Jalan Larkin.

However, police personnel have been dispatched to man the junctions.

Some people living in high-rise apartments were also stuck inside lifts when the power went out.

A spokesman from the Larkin Fire and Rescue Department said they had received a few calls about people trapped in lifts. He said they were dispatching personnel to help the victims.

At press time, the TNB hotline said only that there was a power disruption in Johor Baru and Klang.

Meanwhile Johor International Trade, Investment and Utilities committee chairman, Jimmy Puah Wee Tse, when contacted, said that a main TNB substation in JBCC had experienced problem resulting in the major outage in the city.

"TNB has assurred me that they are doing their best to resolve this.

"I urge the people to be calm and let TNB resolve this matter.

"I also urge those in high-rises not to use the lifts during this time to prevent from being trapped," he said, adding that TNB would also be dispatching mobile generators to critical areas such as hospitals.