KTVN Channel 2 - Reno Tahoe News Weather, Video - Storms Blamed for Sparking Brazil Blackouts
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Brazilian authorities are blaming storms for last night's widespread power outage that left up to 60 million people in the dark. The blackout lasted for more than two hours in 18 states, affecting Rio, Sao Paulo and several other major cities. It also knocked out power in neighboring Paraguay for about 30 minutes. Officials said a band of storms knocked down power lines and towers, knocked a huge hydroelectric dam offline, brought subways to a halt and hindered airport operations. It also renewed questions about the country's security plans for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Authorities say that during the outage, groups of muggers victimized people near the football stadium that will host the 2014 World Cup Final, and the opening and closing ceremonies during the Olympics two years later. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
