Extended power outage that hit Puerto Rico angers and worries many during heat advisories
Towns in central and southern Puerto Rico are struggling to emerge from a prolonged power outage that has forced authorities in the U.S. territory to activate an emergency response team
COAMO, Puerto Rico — Towns in central and southern Puerto Rico are struggling to emerge from a prolonged power outage that forced authorities in the U.S. territory to activate an emergency response team on Monday and request food distribution to those in need.
The outage occurred more than a week ago, leaving tens of thousands of clients without power after a transformer that twice exceeded its useful life collapsed.
Officials with Luma Energy, which operates transmission and distribution for Puerto Rico’s power authority, have said repairs could take more than a month. The announcement sparked widespread anger, especially since the outage has disrupted water service and comes amid daily excessive heat warnings, with the Atlantic hurricane season just starting.
Some politicians are demanding that Gov. Pedro Pierluisi declare a state of emergency.
“The people of Santa Isabel, Coamo and Aibonito cannot endure another day without electricity,” Puerto Rico Sen. Héctor Santiago Torres said on Monday, referring to towns in the Caribbean island’s central and southern regions. “This situation is unsustainable.”
More than 40% of Puerto Rico's 3.2 million people live below the poverty level, and not everyone can afford generators or replace costly electric appliances damaged by the outages.
“My fridge broke because of the voltage issues, so I had to throw away all the spoiled food,” said Carmen Franco, 68, as she spoke over the roar of generators in the southern town of Coamo, where she joined dozens awaiting a free lunch on Saturday.
Officials
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