A basement flood in Langdon Hall prompted a shutdown of electrical power in most south campus buildings this afternoon, according to a campus-wide email.

A sensor in the boiler chiller plant of Langdon detected water entry around 10:20 a.m. this morning, said Joe Wills, a spokesman for Chico State. A transformer housed in the basement of Langdon prompted Facilities Management and Services workers to cut power across the south side of campus.

“It’s a high voltage area,” Wills said.

Two main power lines supply electricity to the south and north side of campus, Wills said. The south line connects to the transformer in the flooded basement.

Shutdown of electricity allowed facilities management employees to safely enter the Langdon basement to isolate the electrical feed to the building, according to the campus email.

“Right now, it’s a hazard,” Wills said.

Employees in all south campus buildings, including Kendall Hall and the Bell Memorial Union, were asked to take a paid leave for the day, according to the email.

Approximately 15 faculty and staff in Langdon, home to the civil engineering and construction management departments, were asked to leave work early, Wills said.

While south campus employees are expected to return to work tomorrow morning after power is restored this afternoon, Langdon is likely to remain shutdown for an undetermined time, Wills said.

The cause of the flood is still unknown, Wills said.

Mozes Zarate can be reached at mzarate@theorion.com or @mzarate139 on Twitter.