Power back on, but US still struggling after blackout

Cities across the north-eastern United States and Canada restored power to millions of people today, following the largest blackout in North American history – only to confront a second series of woes in the aftermath of the enormous power cut.

Electricity flowed in Cleveland on day two of the blackout, but water moved at a trickle. Times Square was once again the luminous centre of Manhattan, but only 10 of the system’s 24 main underground lines were running early today. The lights clicked on in almost two million homes in Michigan, but gas remained in scarce supply around Detroit.