By Natalie Campbell and Markelia Rumble

The Bog Walk Gorge in St. Catherine is now open, following the derailment of a Windalco bauxite train on Saturday.

The derailment caused several of the train’s boxcars to fall into the Rio Cobre, bringing down utility poles and power lines in the area.

The closure had a major impact on commuters and residents, while also leaving thousands without power.

More than 4,300 JPS customers in Kingston and St. Catherine were affected.

According to the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), the derailment damaged a critical back-up system that supports power supply to multiple communities.

The impacted areas include Bog Walk, Linstead, Ewarton, Redwood, Riversdale, Treadways, Troja, Harewood, Pear Tree Grove, Sligoville, Guys Hill and surrounding environs.

JPS says while its teams worked assiduously to have power restored to the affected areas, they were being hampered in some locations by rain and significant lightning and thunderstorm activity, which can create unsafe working conditions.

The company says it commits to restoring supply as quickly as it is safe to do so.

Meanwhile, up to yesterday, the company continued work in the Gorge, to restore the remaining customers affected by the train accident.

JPS said the repair of critical elements in that area will also aid in returning the back-up system to full functionality.