Power outage in Berlin: THW fights against darkness in the southeast!

Power outage in Berlin: THW fights against darkness in the southeast!

In Berlin, everything is currently centered around the long-lasting power outage in the southeast of the city. On Tuesday, September 9th, a fire on two electricity pylons in Johannisthal caused massive disruption. There are now over 300 employees of the Technical Relief Agency (THW) from all twelve Berlin local associations on duty. They support the fire department, which continues to maintain emergency calls and provide emergency power. Around 13,700 households and businesses are affected and, according to forecasts, will have to wait until Thursday evening for full supplies, while numerous schools and care facilities are also affected.

The THW is on site with a comprehensive operational plan. The tasks include the power supply for a nursing home and the Treptow health department. The helpers also ensured lighting at care centers, information points and disaster relief lighthouses. A key part of their work is to support critical infrastructure. Sebastian Gold, the THW state representative, expressly thanks the emergency services for their tireless efforts. This deployment is primarily characterized by lessons learned from the power outage in 2019, during which important experiences were gained that are now being incorporated.

The location on site

The districts of Niederschöneweide, Köpenick, Grünau, Johannisthal, Adlershof, Bohnsdorf and Altglienicke are particularly affected. The fire department has set up emergency call acceptance points and the THW forces are taking care of strengthening the critical infrared and providing emergency power supply for several facilities. Fortunately, the current situation for the THW is stable so far, with no major demands expected. Nevertheless, the situation remains tense: there is no hot water in many households, and emergency numbers are limited in certain regions.

Special attention is paid to nursing facilities; There, ventilators had to fail due to power outages, which made it necessary to transfer affected residents to nearby hospitals. In addition, the situation means that local public transport, including trams and bus routes, is severely affected, which has led to replacement services for parts of the S-Bahn. The police and fire brigade are also on site to support emergency calls.

The role of THW

Electrical supply is a core competency of the THW, which operates nationwide and has over 80,000 volunteers. The helpers are not only deployed during power outages, but also during other disasters and have established themselves as an important partner in civil protection. In order to be able to react quickly in emergencies, the THW uses special emergency generators with an output of up to 200 kVA. The ability to synchronize several of these generators enables them to provide larger amounts of electricity for public institutions.

The investigation into the fire in Johannisthal, which triggered this long-lasting power outage, is running at full speed. A suspected letter of responsibility is currently being examined. This incident has proven to be one of the most serious in Berlin in the last 25 years and represents a significant challenge for the city. Those affected are called upon to conserve energy and consider alternative ways to make their emergency calls.

The solidarity and rapid response of aid organizations are crucial to help the affected citizens and normalize the situation as quickly as possible. The city of Berlin and its citizens can be proud of the commitment of the volunteers from the THW and the fire department, who show a good hand in these bitter times.