Residents suffer five-day power blackout in Spitalfields

More than 50 residents were left without power in their homes, some for as many as four days, after a fire damaged the electrics in a block of flats.

One of those affected, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was forced to charge his mobile phone in his car each night after being left with no power from Wednesday afternoon, October 9, to Sunday evening, October 13.

The cause of the electrical room fire at Hobson’s Place, Spitalfields, owned by Tower Hamlets Community Housing (THCH), is under investigation.

A spokesman for THCH said hotel accommodation was offered to tenants with an allowance for food until power was restored.

As the block was being cleaned at the time it is believed water from a jet hose may seeped into the wires and blown the electrics, though a THCH spokesman said: “There is nothing to suggest that at this stage that this was the cause.”

He added all but two residents have been reconnected to the power supply owing to difficulties in contacting them.