A row, the masquerade tower at the rio is dark.

((christianne klein)) >> crews are facing some challenges restoring electricity to the entire structure after two seperate water-related incidents caused power outages.

8 news now reporter karen castro has been following the latest developments.

She's live outside the rio on flamingo and valley view.

Karen?

((karen castro)) >> the top half of the masquerade tower will remain closed to the public through new year's eve weekend... possibly even longer.

Last word from caesars entertainment, crews are still testing the power system on the lower floors, hoping to get some of the rooms back on by tonight.

((art abiva stockton, ca: we were inside the room, the power went out in our room.

There's no light, nothing.)) ((karen castro)) art abiva is among the many rio hotel guests affected by two rounds of power outages this week.

((art abiva stockton, ca: then we went back and they told us that we cannot go in.)) ((karen castro)) friday afternoon, crews conducted a test in the lower half of the masquerade tower, hoping to get the green light from county inspectors... and reopen 5-hundred of the 9-hundred rooms. ((richard broome caesars entertainment: first it means you bring the power back up to determine whether or not that will hold and then you begin to work with the county officials to make sure that as you bring the power back up its safe to continue before they issue an order to say 'yes, its safe to bring guest back in')) ((karen castro)) the remaining 4-hundred rooms above the 20th floor will remain closed.

Some electrical areas are still wet.

((richard broome caesars entertainment: all of this is being done with the first priority being safety of our guests and our staff so that's why we're not testing on the upper floors because of the moisture situation.)) ((karen castro)) guests who have been affected are being moved to other caesars entertainment properties on the strip.

The casino-giant is also working with its competitors to accommodate customers.

((richard broome caesars entertainment: we're coming to new year's eve, one of the busiest times of the year for the strip so yes, we were operating near capacity.)) ((karen castro)) new year's eve festivities at the voo doo lounge and the restaurants on the top floor of the tower have been canceled.

The fireworks command center has also been relocated to the parking garage.

((art abiva stockton, ca: it happens, emergencies.

)) ((karen castro)) >> the casino floor and the restaurants on the main level inside the masquerade tower have not been affected.

No word on the financial impact.

Reporting live, karen castro, 8 news now.

((christianne klein)) >>> 320-thousand or