Massive power outage strikes huge part of Sydney’s CBD – as city’s busiest court is evacuated and thousands are plunged into darkness

A burst water pipe has wreaked havoc across Sydney‘s CBD as court rooms were evacuated after thousands were plunged into darkness.

Attendees of Downing Centre local court were pictured standing on the pavement outside on Tuesday morning after the water main burst on Liverpool Street. 

Journalists, lawyers and their clients were evacuated about 9.45am after court rooms suddenly went dark just minutes into proceedings. 

Ausgrid said about 860 customers lost power after the burst water main flooded an underground substation. 

Power has since been restored to more than 400 customers while Ausgrid emergency crews continue to assess the damage. 

Sydney Water turned off the water supply to the area at 10.46am to complete emergency repairs and are estimated to return about 3.45pm. 

Buildings on Elizabeth Street, Pitt Street, Goulburn Street, Park Street and Market Street are affected with repairs currently underway. 

Outages have so far affected a six-block area stretching from Hyde Park in the north-east to the corner of Campbell St and Pitt St in the south-west. 

Attendees of Downing Centre local court were pictured standing on the pavement outside on Tuesday morning after the water main burst on Liverpool Street (pictured)

A traffic patrol car is pictured diverting traffic from Castlereagh Street while passing vehicles drive through floodwater before onlookers

It is currently classified as a ‘minor’ outage and assessments are underway to determine precisely when power will be restored. 

A spokesperson for the Department of Communities and Justice told Daily Mail Australia the extent of the disruptions was not yet clear. 

‘The burst water main was on Castlereagh Street. It caused a power outage in the Downing Centre and some neighbouring buildings,’ they said. 

‘Downing Centre was evacuated as a precaution. We are awaiting an update in relation to Court sittings for today.’

The incident gives a new meaning to the complex’s nickname: ‘the Drowning Centre,’ called so to recognise the relentless volume of cases heard within its walls. 

The heritage-listed complex houses the Local Court, the District Court and a law library known as the Downing Centre Library. 

Local and District court matters have been disrupted by the outages. 

More to come.