PLN suffers Rp500 mln in losses due to flood

State electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN)`s office in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, suffered an estimated Rp500 million in material losses due to flood and landslide on Thursday.

"What is certain, the losses have reached Rp300 million as a result of broken cables and collapsed electricity poles," head of PLN`s office in Balikpapan, Ismail Deu, said here on Friday.

The losses might increase as the PLN`s office was making an inventory of damaged facilities, he said.

He said PLN cut power supplies to flood-hit areas for the sake of local residents` safety when the flood swept through the areas on Thursday morning.

At least 12 voltage regulators were submerged by flood waters on Thursday and they had been repaired now, he said.

A number of transmission poles also collapsed, leading to disruptions in power distribution to a number of areas, he said.

To deal with the problems, the PLN`s office had fielded five quick reaction teams comprising 80 personnel. The teams worked in turns round the o`clock, he said.

"Shortly after receiving a report from the public, we sent the teams to the location to take necessary steps without delay," he said.

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