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Thursday, September 22, 2016

Puerto Rico News For September 22, 2016

LIGHTS OUT FOR PUERTO RICO

PLANT FIRE LEAVES ALL OF PR WITHOUT POWER






















A fire of unknown origin broke out yesterday afternoon at the Central Ag-
uirre power plant in the southern town of Salinas, causing a massive failu-
re which left the entire island of Puerto Rico -- along with Vieques and Cu-
lebra -- without electrical service. The power failure also left over a quarter
of a million households without running water. Police were deployed acr-
oss the island to direct traffic at select interesections, with two officers,one 
in Guaynabo and one in Caguas, being hit by cars. Both received non-life-
threatening injuries.

Hotels all over the San Juan metro area and beyond were packed, as many
island residents opted for staying in air conditioned hotel rooms rather than
suffer the lack of power in their homes. Lines to check in at the Convention
Center Sheraton were reportedly over an hour long. 

Classes were suspended for today at all public schools, the University of
Puerto Rico, and at most private schools and universities. Non-essential
government employees were instructed to show up for work on Thursday
at 12 noon. While power has been reestablished for about 130,000 users a-
cross Puerto Rico as of this writing, over one million households are still
without electricity this morning. Ports, ferries and airports were operating
normally yesterday and this morning. No out of the ordinary flight delays
have occurred or are expected.

Yesterday's failure resulted in the largest blackout in Puerto Rico since 
1980.

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