Spot News - 3rd prize
Ilkka Uimonen
Magnum Photos for Newsweek
Magnum Photos for Newsweek
01 January, 2003
Passengers while away time at Grand Central station. During the evening rush hour, the northeastern United States and parts of Canada were hit by a massive electricity failure. In New York, as in other major cities, thousands of people were trapped in metros and lifts, and chaos ensued as traffic lights went out. Many chose to walk home, others were stranded overnight yet the overall mood remained calm. The blackout, thought to have been caused by an overload due to hot weather, lasted nearly 18 hours.