Drought-Induced Energy Crisis Forces Blackouts Across Serbia

Yugoslavia’s worsening energy crisis forced power cuts across the country’s larger republic Tuesday, leaving thousands shivering in their homes and technicians scrambling to maintain electricity to hospitals and other essential facilities.

“We are facing a catastrophe caused by nature--after nine months of drought and the lowest water level in the Danube River, this is the result,” said Srboljub Antic, Serbia’s energy minister.

The drought that began last summer has lowered hydroelectric output in Yugoslavia and neighboring Albania. No investments have been made in the power system in either country in decades, crippling the infrastructure.

But while power outages are commonplace in Albania, major cuts in Yugoslavia were rare until now.

The state power company in Yugoslavia’s main republic, Serbia--home to more than 90% of the country’s 10 million people--announced eight-to-10-hour blackouts throughout the republic.

Belgrade, the Yugoslav and Serbian capital, was divided into four sections, with electricity turned off in each for nine hours, twice a day.

As night fell Tuesday, scattered groups of up to 100 protesters set up roadblocks at two locations in Belgrade, claiming “unfair” distribution of power cuts and saying they had been without electricity for up to 36 hours.

In the central Serbian town of Cacak, authorities introduced a state of emergency after a major relay station broke down and the population of more than 70,000 was plunged into darkness for more than 24 hours.

Cacak’s deputy mayor, Mile Kandic, announced that all factories, shops and schools would be temporarily closed.