### CFE Silent Amidst Power Outage and Fallen Poles in Playas de Tijuana
On the afternoon of Saturday, August 24, 2024, several neighborhoods in Playas de Tijuana experienced a power outage due to the collapse of three wooden utility poles, which were the responsibility of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). This incident occurred at around 3 PM in the Dorado and Coronado sections, as reported on social media.
Despite the collapse causing no injuries to motorists or pedestrians, municipal and state civil protection agencies limited their response to informing that they had already notified CFE. They did not take action to secure the area or prevent accidents, even though the cables could still be live.
CFE has not responded to information requests from residents or news outlets and has not provided a diagnosis of the cause for the poles’ collapse or an estimated timeline for the restoration of power in the affected areas.
The only official who responded was Councilwoman Gina Arana. She mentioned that she had proposed an agreement that will be revisited in the next Tijuana City Council meeting to ensure a collaboration agreement between the government and private companies (Telephony and Cable TV) and public sectors (CFE) to remove disused poles and cables, which pose a risk to public safety and contribute to visual pollution in the city.
Neither the Municipal Civil Protection Director, Miguel Ángel Cevallos, nor the State Civil Protection Director, Salvador Cervantes Hernández, nor the Playas de Tijuana delegate, Anabel Contreras, were present at the incident site or responded to the affected residents.
### Additional Coverage: Failing Infrastructure and Delays in Response Times
A similar incident occurred earlier this year in the Otay Mesa neighborhood, where electrical poles collapsed during a minor storm, causing significant power outages. Residents reported that the response from CFE was slow, similar to the recent events in Playas de Tijuana. Authorities have generally been criticized for their inability to provide timely updates and for the lack of preventive measures that could minimize such disruptions.
Efforts to modernize and reinforce the electrical infrastructure have been slow and insufficient, leading to repeated issues whenever adverse weather conditions or minor accidents occur. Local advocacy groups are urging for a comprehensive review and overhaul of CFE’s infrastructure to ensure reliable service and enhanced safety measures for communities.
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