This pictures exhibits the gate to the Duke Energy West End substation in Moore County, N.C. on Sunday. Tens of hundreds had been with out energy within the county after what authorities say was an act of legal vandalism at a number of substations.

John Nagy/The Pilot by way of AP

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John Nagy/The Pilot by way of AP

This pictures exhibits the gate to the Duke Energy West End substation in Moore County, N.C. on Sunday. Tens of hundreds had been with out energy within the county after what authorities say was an act of legal vandalism at a number of substations.

John Nagy/The Pilot by way of AP

CARTHAGE, N.C. — Multiple energy substations in a North Carolina county had been broken by gunfire in an obvious act of legal vandalism, leaving tens of hundreds of individuals with out electrical energy, authorities mentioned.

The energy outage throughout Moore County that started simply after 7 p.m. Saturday is being investigated as a legal act, Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields mentioned in a Facebook publish. More than 40,000 electrical clients within the county remained with out energy on Sunday morning, in response to poweroutage.us.

“As utility companies began responding to the different substations, evidence was discovered that indicated that intentional vandalism had occurred at multiple sites,” the sheriff mentioned.

Southern Pines Fire Chief Mike Cameron mentioned that two substations within the county had been broken by gunfire on Saturday and {that a} doable motive wasn’t clear. Cameron, additionally the assistant city supervisor, mentioned that the details about the trigger was given to him by Duke Energy. A Duke Energy spokesman did not instantly reply to an e-mail asking concerning the gunfire.

Moore County deputies and different legislation enforcement responded and had been offering safety on the affected websites, the sheriff’s workplace mentioned.

Duke Energy spokesman Jeff Brooks mentioned in an earlier assertion that the corporate skilled “multiple equipment failures” at substations and the facility firm was “investigating signs of potential vandalism related to the outages.”

Duke Energy mentioned energy was anticipated to be restored by Sunday night.

The Pilot newspaper in Southern Pines reported that one among its journalists noticed a gate to one of many substations had been broken and was mendacity in an entry street.

“A pole holding up the gate had clearly been snapped off where it meets the ground. The substation’s infrastructure was heavily damaged,” the newspaper reported.

The newspaper reported that Moore County Regional Hospital was working on generator energy.

Southern Pines Fire and Rescue reported the city’s water and sewer companies are additionally working on backup turbines. Authorities within the space requested folks to remain off the roads if doable or proceed with warning as a result of visitors lights had been out of service.

Cameron, the fireplace chief, mentioned that there have been a number of accidents at intersections the place the visitors lights are out. He mentioned probably the most vital concerned 4 automobiles on Saturday night time simply after the facility went out and despatched 4 folks to the hospital with minor accidents.

He mentioned that authorities are placing short-term cease indicators at some intersections.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper mentioned in a message posted to Twitter that the state was offering sources to investigators and energy crews.

“I have spoken with Duke Energy and state law enforcement officials about the power outages in Moore County. They are investigating and working to return electricity to those impacted,” he mentioned.

The county of roughly 100,000 folks lies about an hour’s drive southwest of Raleigh and is understood for golf resorts in Pinehurst and different communities.