Power Outage Hits Puerto Rico Ahead of New Year’s Eve Celebrations
A massive power outage struck Puerto Rico on Tuesday, just hours before the New Year’s Eve celebrations, leaving 1.5 million customers without electricity. The outage, which began at 04:30 local time, was caused by a fault in an underground cable, according to preliminary investigations.
Restoration Efforts Underway
LUMA Energy, the company responsible for managing energy transmission in Puerto Rico, reported that restoration efforts were already underway, with some customers having their power restored. However, the company warned that the entire restoration process could take up to 48 hours.
As of 1:00 p.m. local time, 44,700 customers had been reconnected in the metropolitan area and the island of Culebra, representing 3% of the customers affected by the outage.
Impact on the Island
The power outage had a significant impact on the island, with buildings going dark and traffic intersections left without traffic lights. The outage also occurred during the high season for tourists from the US mainland, adding to the challenges faced by the island’s authorities.
Government Response
Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi took to social media to express his concerns about the outage, stating that authorities were in communication with LUMA Energy to demand answers and ensure that the public was informed about the measures being taken to restore service.
Infrastructure Challenges
Puerto Rico has faced ongoing infrastructure problems, exacerbated by the devastating Hurricane Maria in 2017. The island’s electrical grid has suffered frequent outages since the Category 4 cyclone devastated it.
Source: AFP