Blackouts hit Brazil's northeastern states
SAO PAULO — Officials and local news reports said a widespread blackout has hit at least seven Brazilian states in the nation@@@s northeast.Power was gradually returning to the massive area. It wasn@@@t clear how many people were affected.One power company official said the cause is not yet known.Some of the blackouts early Friday lasted only a few minutes, others a few hours and in some areas the power has not yet returned.The power failure raised questions again about the energy infrastructure in Brazil — a nation that will host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.In 2009, a massive power failure left more than 60 million people in the dark in 18 states. That failure was ultimately blamed storm damage to transmission lines.ByREUTERS06/08/2025 07:57 AMByREUTERS06/08/2025 05:36 AMByMAARIV06/07/2025 02:33 PMByWALLA!06/07/2025 11:18 AMByREUTERS06/07/2025 03:25 AM