News / Schools close as lightning strikes
PUPILS across the north and east of Shetland had an unexpected day off school when a power cut plunged large parts of the isles into darkness on Wednesday morning.
Scottish & Southern Energy said that 2,500 customers in the north isles, the north mainland as well as Whalsay lost their electricity due to lightning at around 8am.
Shetland Islands Council then had no option but to close the Brae high school, the junior high schools Whalsay and Baltasound as well as the Burravoe, Lunnasting, Mossbank, North Roe and Urafirth primary schools.
North Roe primary school managed to open again later in the morning as power was restored.
A spokesman for SSE said that everybody was reconnected by 11am.
Serco NorthLink has meanwhile cancelled both of Wednesday night’s passenger ferries due to the stormy weather.
And commuters on Yell Sound were experiencing delays on Wednesday morning after one of the two ferries had to be taken out of service due to crew shortages. Normal service resumed at around lunchtime.
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