Puerto Rico endured its second island-wide blackout this week, leaving 1.5 million residents without electricity before workers restored service to nearly all affected areas. The crisis renews concerns about the Caribbean territory's aging infrastructure amid extreme weather patterns.
Local media reports indicate multiple generation plants failed simultaneously late Tuesday, triggering cascading outages across the island. Emergency crews worked through the night to prioritize hospitals and water treatment facilities while businesses shuttered unexpectedly.
"We're reliving the worst moments of Hurricane Maria," said San Juan resident Maribel Torres, referencing the 2017 disaster that left parts of Puerto Rico without power for 11 months. Many residents reported using backup generators as temperatures exceeded 32°C (90°F).
Officials at Luma Energy, the private consortium managing transmission, attributed the collapse to "unplanned equipment retirements" but provided limited technical details. The incident follows a $12 billion grid modernization initiative funded through the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Energy experts warn repeated failures could deter foreign investment in Puerto Rico's manufacturing sector, which accounts for 43% of GDP. Tour operators likewise reported canceled bookings during peak travel season.
