Transmission line failure causes nationwide power outage in Ecuador

A nationwide electricity outage struck Ecuador, leaving the nation in the dark, including the capital’s subway system. The blackout was caused by a failure in an energy transmission line, leading to a cascade disconnection and a lack of electricity at a national scale. Efforts are being made to repair faulty power lines and restore energy service as soon as possible. The outage lasted 20 minutes in some sectors, but continued in most cities. Ecuador has been facing an electricity generation crisis since last year, leading to rationing throughout the country. President Daniel Noboa declared an energy emergency in April due to a drought affecting hydro-electricity power generation. The blackout affected hospitals, traffic lights, and the Quito Metro system. The government is working to restore energy to 95% of the country. The blackout could have been avoided with proper investment in infrastructure maintenance and new electrical transmission. This blackout is not related to the energy crisis in April.