Massive power cuts have shut down a large section of Moscow this morning, halting trams and underground lines and causing 20,000 passengers to be evacuated onto the street. Hospitals and telecommunication companies had to switch to back-up power, and the Russian stock exchange and foreign exchange market were suspended from work. The blackout started after a fire and explosion at an electricity substation, Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko said to MPs from the lower house of parliament. However he did not elaborate. Moscow has seen unseasonably high temperatures meaning electricity demands for air conditioning could have been greater than normal, putting the grid under strain.

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