Thousands Without Power In Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA.com) — Thousands of customers were without power Tuesday night and into Wednesday, Southern California Edison said.

An estimated 58,000 customers lost power in the Santa Monica area, spanning from Pico Boulevard in the north, Ocean Avenue to the west, Marine Street to the south and 17th Street to the east. About half of those customers remained without power as of 11 p.m.

A sporadic power outage was first reported in the Ocean Park neighborhood around 7:40 p.m. The cause remains unknown.

"I was watching a basketball game and then all of a sudden 'poof' — darkness," said Santa Monica resident Matt Enna, adding that he hoped he would be able to get his car out from behind the electric garage door in time to go to work.

Crews on scene and Southern California Edison advised citizens to stay away from any downed power lines.

The number of customers without power was reduced to approximately 1,000 at 4:10 a.m. Wednesday.

Officials anticipate power will be restored to all customers by 3 p.m.