Power cut hits parts of London as internet and traffic lights go down

At least 5,000 people affected by ‘fault on high voltage underground electricity cable’

A major power cut has left thousands without traffic lights, internet and water across London.

UK Power Networks has said the outage has affected people in the E1, E1W and E14 areas of the capital.

However, its website shows reports of power cuts in 42 postcodes across the city, impacting more than 5,000 people.

UK Power Networks said the outages were due to a “fault on a high voltage underground electricity cable”.

It reported the outage at 12.30pm on Tuesday and had expected the power to be back on by 3pm, however several areas were still without electricity by the deadline.

The energy distribution network, which owns and maintains electricity cables and lines across London, the South East and East of England, wrote on Twitter: “We’re aware of a power cut affecting the #E1, #E1W and #E14 areas of #London.

“Our engineers are working to get the power on as soon as possible.”

The whole of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) line has been suspended, while Blackwall Tunnel and Rotherhithe Tunnel have been closed following a fire at an electrical substation in Poplar.

London Fire Brigade said the fire had caused power outages potentially affecting 38,000 customers.

Part of the ground floor of a two-storey electrical substation is alight in Castor Lane.

About 100 people have been evacuated from an adjacent depot and 1,500 students have evacuated a nearby college.

It is not clear whether the substation fire is connected to the wider power outages.