NASHVILLE (AP) - A spokeswoman for the Nashville Electric Service says power outages to about 20 downtown buildings - including the state Capitol - is the result of a work crew accidentally cutting into some underground cable.

Laurie Parker told The Associated Press the incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. Thursday and affects about a six-block radius. Other state buildings include the War Memorial, Tennessee Towers and the Legislative Plaza. Some traffic lights were also out.

Legislative staffers, who gathered in hallways with candles, flashlights and the illuminated screens of their mobile phones, were released not long after the outage.

Parker said the damage was being repaired and power to most of the buildings was expected to be restored by about 4:30 p.m. Meanwhile, some buildings, like the Capitol, were running on backup generators.

Fire officials didn't have any reports of people stuck in elevators.