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Island-Wide Blackout Strikes Puerto Rico Ahead of Easter Holiday
A significant blackout swept across Puerto Rico on Wednesday, catching many residents off guard as they prepared for the forthcoming Easter weekend.
A representative from Luma Energy, the company responsible for power transmission and distribution across the island, confirmed that all 1.4 million customers experienced outages, impacting key facilities including the primary international airport and multiple hospitals. The blackout also left approximately 328,000 residents without water.
As of Wednesday, power had only been restored to around 175,000 customers, representing about 12% of the total.
With hotels reaching near-full capacity due to tourist activities over the Easter break, officials assured visitors that many establishments and businesses were functioning on generator power.
Governor Responds to Crisis
Governor Jenniffer González expressed the collective frustration felt by the population in response to yet another widespread blackout. In a statement posted on X, she expressed her commitment to leading during this crisis, stating, “I’m with you because the people of Puerto Rico deserve their officials to respond in times of crisis, and that’s why I’m here.”
The origins of this outage remained unclear, continuing a troubling trend of major power failures on the island in recent years. Just a few months ago, another blackout left nearly 1.3 million residents in darkness as they prepared for New Year celebrations.
In light of the recent events, González has indicated her intention to reevaluate the contract with Luma Energy, although she mentioned that finding a swift replacement would be complex. She has also called for a thorough investigation into the causes of the blackout and noted that projections pointed to insufficient power generation ahead of the upcoming summer peak.
“Puerto Rico can’t be the island where the power goes out all the time,” she asserted. “We’re going to take action. Let people have no doubts.”
Officials anticipate that 90% of customers will regain power within 48 to 72 hours following the outage.
Public Outrage and Community Impact
The blackout has fueled public anger, with many reiterating demands for the government to terminate its agreements with Luma Energy and Genera PR, which manages the island’s power generation. Renowned reggaeton artist Bad Bunny voiced the frustrations of many through a post on X, asking, “When are we going to do something?”
Transportation was severely affected as foot traffic increased over the rapid transit system’s overpass, with numerous businesses having to close. Interruptions to professional baseball and basketball events were noted, while the sounds of backup generators and the smell of smoke filled the air. Police were deployed to manage traffic as conditions became chaotic.
Many residents without generators flocked to local businesses in search of ice, highlighting the vulnerability of communities in the face of frequent outages.
Puerto Rico, home to approximately 3.2 million people, faces a poverty rate exceeding 40%. Consequently, a large segment of the population lacks the financial means to invest in alternative energy solutions such as solar panels or generators. Current data indicates that around 117,000 homes and businesses on the island utilize solar power, with petroleum-based plants supplying 62% of electricity and other sources contributing lesser amounts.
Investigating the Cause
Daniel Hernández, the vice president of operations for Genera PR, reported during a news briefing that a disturbance impacted the transmission system shortly after noon on Wednesday, a time when the grid faces heightened vulnerability due to limited frequency regulation.
Acting Governor Verónica Ferraiuoli confirmed that local officials had received outreach from the White House, indicating federal support if needed.
Pablo José Hernández, Puerto Rico’s congressional representative, committed to advocating for increased awareness in Washington regarding the crucial challenges that Puerto Ricans encounter daily.
“The electric grid crisis is frustrating, and after years of blackouts, it feels like it’s going from bad to worse,” he remarked.
The situation continues to evolve, as residents await updates regarding restorations and next steps to ensure a more reliable power system moving forward.
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