A sudden large-scale power outage plunged parts of central Taiwan into darkness on Monday evening, disrupting daily life and business operations in Taichung, the region's economic hub. The unannounced blackout occurred at 8:53 p.m. local time, with local media reporting widespread electricity failures across residential and commercial districts.
Initial reports indicate traffic lights malfunctioned during peak hours, causing temporary gridlock, while some hospitals activated backup generators. A restaurant owner in Taichung's Xitun District told KhabarAsia: 'We lost refrigeration for two hours – this couldn't have come at worse time during holiday season preparations.'
Taiwan's state-run utility provider confirmed engineers are working to restore power, but declined to immediately specify the cause. The outage comes amid increased scrutiny of energy infrastructure across Asia, particularly following this year's record summer temperatures that strained power grids region-wide.
Business analysts warn prolonged disruptions could impact Taiwan's crucial semiconductor supply chain, with several tech parks located in the affected area. The Taiwan authorities have promised a full investigation, emphasizing the need for stable energy supplies to maintain the region's position in global electronics manufacturing.
