Massive power outage hits Puerto Rico on New Year's Eve, restoration may take 48 hours

Puerto Rico plunged into darkness as a massive power outage hit around 80 per cent of the entire island leaving around d1.3 million people in darkness on New Year's Eve. Energy company Luma said the outage was caused due to an infrastructure problem at a power plant on the island's southern coast. "LUMA will be restoring power to customers in phases. We’ve already begun the process of reenergizing some customers, with the full restoration process taking between 24 and 48 hours as conditions permit," the company said.
Josué Colón, director of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, said in a radio interview that a problem with a power line in the south caused a "cascade effect" that led to multiple power plants failing. He said it would take "much of the day" to fix the problem.
Puerto Rican Gov. Pedro Pierluisi said on X that he was in touch with Luma and the private energy company Genera PR. "We are demanding answers and solutions from both LUMA and Genera, who must expedite the restart of the generating units outside the fault area and keep the people duly informed about the measures they are taking to restore service throughout the Island," he said.
The Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport said flights were operating normally but it was working on electricity generators.