Ecuador Plunged into Nationwide Blackout Due to Transmission Line Failure: Minister

Ecuador experienced a major nationwide blackout, leading to widespread power outages across the country. The Minister of Public Works, Roberto Luque, attributed the emergency to a critical transmission line failure. According to Luque, the national electricity operator, CENACE, reported "a failure in the transmission line that caused a cascade disconnection, so there is no energy service nationwide."

Efforts to Restore Power

Minister Luque assured the public that authorities were actively working to resolve the outage as quickly as possible. Despite the challenges, there were initial signs of progress as power began to return to some areas of Quito, the capital city, within hours of the blackout.

Long-standing Energy Crisis

Ecuador, a country with a population of 18 million, has been grappling with an ongoing energy crisis for several years. Issues such as failing infrastructure, inadequate maintenance, and a reliance on imported energy have all contributed to intermittent power shortages. Although the country has experienced rolling blackouts before, none have been as extensive as the recent nationwide blackout.