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Dominican Republic hit by nationwide blackout after grid failure
A technical failure in the electricity transmission system triggered a nationwide power outage in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, leaving millions without electricity, according to officials.
The disruption began at 13:23 local time (17:23 GMT) when a substation malfunction caused a system-wide collapse, the state-owned Dominican Electricity Transmission Company confirmed, citing Energy Minister Joel Santos Echeverría. By Tuesday evening, authorities reported restoring approximately 33% of national demand and vowed to accelerate efforts to fully reinstate service.
Cause and impact
Officials attributed the blackout to a cascade of failures after generation units in two major power plants shut down unexpectedly. The incident disrupted critical infrastructure, including the metro and cable car systems in Santo Domingo, forcing evacuations during peak hours.
Local media and social media reports described chaotic traffic conditions across the country, though some areas retained partial electricity and internet connectivity. The outage follows weeks of smaller, intermittent blackouts, as noted by AFP.
Broader context
The Caribbean nation, home to 11 million people, remains a key tourist destination. Last month, Hurricane Melissa-a Category 5 storm-devastated parts of the region, killing four in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Sharing the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, the Dominican Republic has faced recurring infrastructure challenges. Authorities have yet to provide a timeline for full restoration.
