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What caused the power outage in San Francisco?
The outage was triggered by a fire at a PG&E substation in the Mission neighborhood. This fire disrupted power for thousands of residents and highlighted ongoing issues with aging infrastructure and previous fire incidents at the same site.
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How many people were affected and what services were disrupted?
Over 130,000 residents experienced power loss, leading to disruptions in transit, traffic signals, and other essential services. The outage also affected self-driving cars and public transportation, causing widespread chaos in the city.
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Is this outage part of a larger infrastructure problem?
Yes, the fire at the PG&E substation is part of a pattern of infrastructure vulnerabilities in San Francisco. The city has faced similar incidents in 1996 and 2003, and despite efforts to improve safety, aging equipment remains a concern.
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What steps are being taken to prevent future outages?
Authorities and PG&E are working on upgrading infrastructure, improving safety protocols, and implementing new fire prevention measures. These efforts aim to reduce the risk of similar incidents happening again in the future.
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Could this outage happen again soon?
While improvements are underway, the risk of future outages remains due to the ongoing challenges with aging infrastructure and environmental factors. Continued investment and maintenance are essential to prevent recurrence.
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How has the city responded to the outage?
City officials have coordinated emergency responses, provided updates to residents, and are working with PG&E to restore power quickly. They are also assessing infrastructure vulnerabilities to improve resilience.