CNN
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An intensive energy outage affecting about 40,000 prospects in North Carolina’s Moore County is being investigated as a “felony prevalence” after crews discovered indicators of potential vandalism at a number of areas, authorities mentioned.
A number of communities throughout the county started experiencing energy outages simply after 7 p.m. Saturday, the Moore County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned in a Facebook post.
“As utility corporations started responding to the completely different substations, proof was found that indicated that intentional vandalism had occurred at a number of websites,” the sheriff’s workplace mentioned.
Gov. Roy Cooper on Sunday tweeted that state legislation enforcement would be part of the investigation.
“I’ve spoken with Duke Vitality and state legislation enforcement officers concerning the energy outages in Moore County. They’re investigating and dealing to return electrical energy to these impacted,” Cooper mentioned. “The state is offering assist as wanted.”
Greater than 38,000 prospects have been with out energy throughout the county Sunday morning, in keeping with the Duke Vitality outage map. Based on poweroutage.us, about 41,000 prospects had misplaced energy in Moore County and neighboring Hoke County.
Crews have been experiencing “a number of tools failures” which can be affecting substations in Moore County, Duke Vitality spokesman Jeff Brooks advised CNN affiliate WRAL.
“We’re additionally investigating indicators of potential vandalism associated to the outages,” Brooks mentioned.
Deputies and officers from different legislation enforcement businesses responded to the completely different websites to supply safety, in keeping with the sheriff’s workplace.
Moore County is in central North Carolina, about 50 miles northwest of Fayetteville.
