Power transformer explosion leaves Manahttan Beach in the dark

MANHATTAN BEACH. Calif. (FOX 11 / CNS) - Power has been restored to more than 4,000 of the 5,000 customers who lost electricity in Manhattan Beach and traffic signals were back on but about 250 Southern California Edison customers were expected to remain in the dark until later this morning.

A downed transformer triggered the outage about 8:30 p.m. Sunday at 11th Street and Poinsettia Avenue, Manhattan Beach police said.

Crews were working to restore power to 5,644 customers by 10 p.m., utility spokeswoman Lauren Bartlett said. Crews gradually restored power to all but 253 customers Sunday evening, according to Edison's website, which
estimated full restoration by 7 a.m.

Officers and fire officials were dispatched to the scene of the downed transformer, a police dispatcher said.

Traffic signals were out at Blanche Road and Rosecrans Avenue and surrounding streets due to the outage, police said. The signals were working again by 11 p.m.