CANBERRA, Oct 15: Blackouts in Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) during a sweltering summer could cause deaths, according to a leading medical professional.
The surrounding suburbs of Alice Springs, a city in the Australian Outback, were left without power for about nine hours on Sunday as temperatures climbed to 39 degrees Celsius ©, according to local media.
Rob Parker, the NT president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), said that while it did not happen this time future blackouts could cause deaths.
Dale Wakefield, the NT’s essential services minister, announced that an investigation had been opened into the cause of the blackout.
“I have made it clear to the (chief executives) of Territory Generation and Power and Water Corporation that this is unacceptable,” according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday.
“Territorians deserve a stable and secure power system, and that is why I have called for an independent review into this incident.”
“The independent review will identify and investigate any system-wide issues that led to this problem occurring and the adequacy of responses, both short and long term.”
(AGENCIES)
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