Power outage hits millions in central Asia

The exact cause of problem is being investigated, with work underway to restore the power supply.

Airports in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan had to temporarily suspend operations. 

Media reports said underground railways were at a standstill in many places, traffic lights were down and tourists were stuck in ski lifts.

The power grids of the three ex-Soviet republics are connected to each other and - via Kazakhstan - also to Russia, from where electricity can be supplied in the event of bottlenecks.

People, especially in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, repeatedly complain about power outages and an unstable supply. 

This large-scale outage is the most serious in recent years.