Updated

PSEG: thousands were without power in Long Beach

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Just before 10 p.m., PSEG reported that more than 3,000 customers in Long Beach were without power, and police were out covering intersections in areas that were completely in the dark, an official said.

Residents began reporting the outages just after 8 p.m. and, for a while, more than 5,000 people were in the dark. For some, power was out for an hour or so, while others reported outages for several hours or more.

PSEG spokeswoman Kristina Pappas said that power was expected to be fully restored by 11 p.m., and that crews were "trying to get everyone back on as quickly as possible."

"There was a lockout in Long Beach -- pretty much when a circuit trips," she said. "They isolated it and are working on it and it should be on in approximately an hour."

After 10 p.m., the agency reported significantly less outages.

When asked if the incident was related to reports of other power outages in Long Beach this morning and last night, Pappas said that "the incident tonight is isolated."

"Power went out around 8:15, came back on almost an hour later in the 200 West Hudson block," resident Rob Perez told the Herald on Facebook.

"No power Superblock, Shore Road and Long Beach Boulevard," added Donna Davis Zides around 10 p.m.

"They've got some explaining to do," another resident said.

Meanwhile, firefighters responded to at least 10 power outage-related calls before 10 p.m., mostly for residents calling about odors of smoke.

"Just drove around ... [power] out from Walks to Magnolia and from ocean to bay," one resident said earlier on Project 11561's Facebook page.

The exact cause of the outage remains unclear. PSEG reported on its website that outages spanned from Magnolia to Lincoln boulevards, along with some in the West End, and many residents said that the town was completely dark.

"There are utility trucks and fire vehicles going up and down dark blocks," said Island Park resident Barbara Rubin-Perry, editor of the Oceanside Herald, who was driving through town. "No one knows what happened but restaurants and stores are dark, except for the odd place here and there."

Pappas encouraged residents to check PSEG's website and outage map for updates at www.psegliny.com or call (800) 490-0075.