For the third time in six weeks, a rat has caused a major power outage in Flevoland. The animal invaded the electricity distribution station in Zeewolde last night and ensured that more than 9,000 households in Zeewolde and Almere ran out of electricity.
On January 11, a rat in the distribution station also caused a power outage. Around 10,000 households in Zeewolde, Almere and Lelystad were without electricity for a few hours. Shops in Zeewolde remained closed and mobile phones could not connect.
When engineers found a dead rat in the distribution station, network operator Liander immediately took measures. A control company was hired to close cracks and to place traps, but it was hit again on 5 February: a rat caused a power outage at more than 9,000 houses in Zeewolde, Almere and Dronten.
Rat plague
It is not new that rats, just like mice and martens, cause problems, but according to Liander these are usually small low-voltage boxes in neighborhoods. The network operator calls the current problems exceptional and speaks of a rat plague. The company is going to dump cement to further protect the distribution station against rats.
Fruit growers in the vicinity of the distribution station also suffer from nuisance caused by rats, reports Flevoland broadcaster.
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