A blackout triggered by problems with a submarine cable has left residents in east China's island county of Shengsi hot and irate since Tuesday morning, said local power supply department.

Initial investigations showed that the power outage stemmed from the breakage of a submarine cable line linking Shanghai to Shengsi of Zhejiang Province, the province's electricity department said.

It is estimated that the cable might be cut by anchors of large ships. But the real cause is still under investigation.

Electricity has restored in parts of the county, with a population of some 90,000, after diesel generators were used. But about one quarter of the island residents still live without electricity.

Repair work is underway, and electricity supply is expected to be fully restored within two days as more generators will be shipped to the island, said the department.

(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2010)