Island Struggles to Recover as Generators Roar Amid Power Outages and Water Shortages
More than a million residents of Puerto Rico were left without power on Thursday following a fire at a main power plant, causing the largest blackout of the year. The widespread outage forced schools to close and government offices to shut down. Additionally, around 160,000 customers were also left without water, exacerbating the crisis.
The island, home to 3.2 million people, was thrown into turmoil as the hum of generators and the scent of diesel filled the air. Residents, especially those with medical conditions like diabetes that require refrigerated insulin, expressed concern over how much longer they would be without electricity.
Gas stations were overwhelmed with long lines as people scrambled to stock up on fuel for generators, while others attempted to charge their phones at local businesses. The scene bore a striking resemblance to the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017, which devastated the island.
