The government has apologized for the disruption caused by two long blackouts yesterday following an explosion at an electrical sub-station located on Cesar Nicol?s Penson Avenue, in Gazcue, Santo Domingo, which affected thousands of users, including the Presidential Palace. A second blackout affected the rest of the country – 81% of all circuits – as explained by Engineer Radhames Segura, manager of the state electric corporation (CDEEE). The first blackout took place in the morning was caused by lightning, whereas the second one – affecting 156 circuits -took place at 1:15pm due to a failure in a 538 thousand volt line in the areas of Jaguey-Aguacate and Valdesia dams.