Three middle-school students in North China's Shanxi Province stole power equipment, which led to a massive blackout in the city of Jincheng and a direct economic loss of millions of dollars, Shanxi Evening News reports.

The three first-grade students of a middle school in Sudian Village of Jincheng are reported to have stolen the nuts used to anchor a high-voltage power tower in their village to sell them and make some pocket money.

The theft resulted in the collapse of the power tower, and the massive blackout in many local areas, said the newspaper.

The three students have confessed their crime to local police.

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