The State-run Cameroon Radio Television, CRTV national radio station was early Monday morning hit by a blackout following an accident with broadcasting equipment.

Listeners of Cameroon’s State-run Cameroon Radio Television, CRTV Yaounde National Radio Station were on Monday morning (February 20, 2012) left confused when the first news cast for the day in French at 6 am failed to come up, with the radio station remaining silent.

For most of the morning, the situation remained the same with the station not broadcasting any programmes. According to an announcement on the station during the 1 pm network news in French, the nine-hour blackout was caused by accident at about 3 am early the same morning when a water pipe ruptured, spilling water into broadcasting equipment. This led to an electrical short circuit. In order to avoid further problems, management opted on shutting down the station, the announcement explained.

Broadcasting only resumed just before midday, even though the 1 pm network news in French was said to have come from the nearby CRTV station for Centre Region. It was not however clear as at 1pm on Monday if the cause of the accident had been satisfactorily resolved.