Let there be light
Puerto Rico struggles to emerge from an islandwide blackout after a power plant fire caused the aging utility grid to fail.
Cheers erupted as lights slowly began to flicker across Puerto Rico overnight as it struggled to emerge from an island-wide blackout followinga fire at a power plant that caused the aging utility grid to fail.
More than 390,000 of 1.5 million homes and businesses served by the power utility had electricity restored by late Thursday, with cries of, “The lights are back on!” echoing through some neighborhoods.
Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla said he expected more than half of customers to have power by Friday morning.
“The number is rising rapidly,” he said, adding that 90 percent of customers will likely have power by Saturday. However, he cautioned :“Problemsmay arise. I don’ t want to create false expectations.”
The blackout hit the entire island of 3.5 million people early Wednesday afternoon and prompted Garcia to activate the National Guard and declare a state of emergency. Public schools remained closed on Friday, and heavy storms that hit the island on Thursday afternoon knocked out power to some areas where electricity had been restored.
“It’s been horrible,” said San Juan resident Elizabeth Maldonado, adding that she was resigned to another sleepless night. “I take showers every three hours at night to stay refreshed.”
People crouched around power outlets at generatorpowered supermarkets and malls to charge cellphones.
Traffic lights remained dark most of Thursday, and police officers stood in the streets directing traffic all day, some in heavy downpours. Workers at the main international airport filled out luggage tickets by hand.
Problems may arise. I don’t want to create false expectations.”
Alejandro Garcia Padilla, Puerto Rico governor