According to CNN, some 1.5 million people in Puerto Rico were left without power Wednesday night in a blackout that blanketed nearly the entire island. Adding to the USA territory’s problems right now is a massive, island-wide blackout – which gives Puerto Ricans one more reason to come to Florida.
Advertisement
According to ABC News, the fire at the Aguirre plant in southern Puerto Rico began Wednesday afternoon and destroyed two major transmission lines carrying 230,000 volts each.
As of Thursday morning, service had been restored to just 130,000 customers and, barring any mishaps, more than half of the island could have power by the afternoon, the company said via Twitter. Utility officials have said that the restructuring is necessary for the company to afford maintenance and to upgrade aging equipment. Many likely planned to drag mattresses out to balconies and porches to spend the night outside. Garcia Padilla said the switch where the fire occurred was correctly maintained.
It is unclear when power will be restored.
As sunset approached on Thursday, long lines formed at ice plants, supermarkets and gas stations.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Much of Puerto Rico is still without electricity after a fire yesterday at a power plant. “The system is not created to withstand a failure of this magnitude”.
“To see everything blacked out, my God”, said Virginia Davila, a nurse’s assistant who lives on the 11th floor of an apartment building in San Juan.
Traffic lights remained dark most of Thursday, and police officers stood in the streets directing traffic all day, some in heavy downpours.
Fire Chief Angel Crespo said a power switch got overheated, causing a 2,000-gallon mineral oil tank to explode. All those fires were extinguished and no one was injured, officials said. Train services in the capital city of San Juan have been halted.
The electricity provider is in the process of restructuring $9 billion of debt.
Advertisement
The power company is struggling with a nine-billion dollar USA debt. and management says it needs more revenue to update what it says is outdated equipment. Others chatted with neighbors while standing or sitting at opened doors and windows trying to beat the night heat.
