A huge island-wide blackout hit Pureto Rico on Wednesday as the residents were looking forward to the Easter weekend.
A spokesman for Luma Energy, who oversees electrical transmission and distribution for the US region, told the Associated Press that all 1.4 million customers were affected, including the main international airport and several hospitals. At least 328,000 customers were without water.
By Wednesday, power was restored for about 175,000 customers – or 12% – for.
The hotel was near the capacity, thousands of tourists were holidaying Easter on the island. Tourism authorities asked him to assure him that many hotels and other businesses were working with generators.
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“There are no words that can reduce the despair feeling as a people on the face of another massive blackout,” the village. Jennifer Gonzalaz, who shortened his holiday and flew back to Puerto Rico, wrote on X, “I am with you because the people of Puerto Rico deserves their officers to respond to the time of crisis here, and why it is so.”
It was not immediately clear what causes the shutdown, which is the latest in a string of major blackouts on the island in recent years.
In December, another massive blackout left about 1.3 million in the dark as the residents started preparations to celebrate the New Year’s Eve.
Hadlites Old San Juan, a island-wide blackout at Puerto Rico, brightens cobilestone roads during Wednesday, 16 April 2025. (AP Photo/Alejandro Grandilo)
The governor promised that she would cancel the contract with Luma, but noted that while government officials have started analyzing the contract and finding a possible replacement, it would not be a quick process.
Gonzalez also said that it requested a thorough investigation in the blackout, given that the authorities have already warned that there would be not enough power for this heat, when demand on the demand peaks.
“Puerto Rico cannot be the island where electricity goes out all the time,” Gonzalez said. “We are going to take action. People have no doubt.”
Officials said that 90% of the customers would have electricity 48 to 72 hours after blackout.
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The latest Blackout has abandoned thousands of Puerto Ricons, many people renewed their calls that the government cancels the contract with Luma and Genera PR, which oversees the generation of power on the island.
Regon Superstar Bad Bani echoed collective anger, writing on X: “When are we going to do something?”
Dozens of people were forced to walk on an overpass next to the Rapid transit system, which serves the capital San Juan, while the score of businesses was forced to shut down.
Professional baseball and basketball games were canceled as the generator and the smell of smoke was filled in the air. Traffic was inflamed to deploy police officers at busy intersections.
Drivers San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, 16 April, 2025 fill fuel containers at a gas station during an island-wide blackout on 16 April, 2025. (AP Photo/Alejandro Grandilo)
Crowds around grocery stores and other businesses without generators to buy ice in Puerto Rico.
The island of 3.2 million inhabitants has more than 40% poverty rate, and not everyone can afford solar panels or generators.
About 117,000 houses and businesses on the island have solar roofs. Meanwhile, according to the US Energy Information Administration, petroleum -powered power plants offer Pureto Rico power, natural gas 24%, coal 8% and 62% of renewable 7%.
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Daniel Hernandez, vice -president of the operations at Genera PR, said at a news conference that a disturbance hit the transmission system soon after noon on Wednesday, during a time when the grid is weak because there are no many machines regulating frequency in that hour.
Puerto Rico acting governor and state secretary, Veronica Feruoli, said that the White House reached the local authorities and said that they were available if necessary.
Customers sit inside a restaurant burnt by battery-powered lantern during an island-wide power outage on old San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, 16 April 2025. (AP Photo/Alejandro Grandilo)
Pablo Jose Hernandez, Representative of Puerto Rico at Congress, said he would work to ensure that “Washington understands the real and immediate situation that Puerto Ricons face every day.”
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“The electric grid crisis is disappointing, and after years of blackout, it seems that it is deteriorating,” he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
