Photo: RICARDO ARDUENGO / AFP / Getty Images
Many Puerto Ricans will be celebrating the New Year in darkness after a massive power outage on Tuesday (December 31). The power failure knocked out electricity for around 1.3 million customers, which accounts for about 80% of the island.
The blackout, which began at 5:30 a.m., was caused by an infrastructure problem at a power plant on the island's southern coast, according to energy company LUMA. The issue involved an underground cable, leading to a cascade effect that caused multiple power plants to fail, as explained by Josué Colón, director of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority.
LUMA is working to restore power in phases, with full restoration expected to take 24 to 48 hours. Governor Pedro Pierluisi has demanded answers and solutions from LUMA and Genera PR, urging them to expedite the restart of generating units outside the fault area. Despite the blackout, flights at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport are operating normally using electricity generators.
Power outages are a frequent issue in Puerto Rico, with previous blackouts sparking protests and leading to the U.S.-owned Genera PR taking over management of the island's aging power stations. The current outage has disrupted businesses, telecommunications, and essential services, including ATMs and gas stations. Residents are advised to charge devices, ensure backup batteries are available, and exercise caution when traveling, especially in areas with malfunctioning traffic signals.