Puerto Rico: Electrical blackout hits entirety of island territory

Reuters
Bexaida Torres is framed last week by the doorway to what’s left of her Canovanas, Puerto Rico, home after Hurricane Maria.

Nearly seven months after Hurricane Maria left Puerto Rico facing island-wide electrical blackouts and shortages of water and other basics including medical supplies, the Unites States territory has again been plunged into powerlessness.

It’s the first island-wide blackout since the storm struck on Sept. 20, and officials were saying it could be 24 to 36 hours before power is restored for the electrical utility’s 1.4 million customers, according to the Associated Press.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, charged with overseeing federal power-restoration efforts, has, according to the AP, said it hopes to have the island completely energized by May.

The AP reported being told that officials were investigating the cause of Wednesday’s blackout.