Total Blackout in Bali Due to Underwater Cable Damage
Bali, Indonesia — A total blackout has struck Bali, Indonesia’s largest tourist island, following damage to an underwater cable that supplies electricity from the neighboring island of Java. The power outage, which occurred on Friday at approximately 4:00 p.m. local time, has left the island’s residents and visitors without electricity, leading to significant disruptions.
According to the state-owned electricity company, Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), the blackout has resulted in widespread outages that affected multiple sectors, including essential services and transportation. Traffic lights were rendered inoperable, causing substantial traffic congestion on busy roads around the island. Fortunately, the traffic lights have since been restored to normal operation.
As teams work to resolve the outages, numerous residents have resorted to lighting fires to cook food, as access to electricity has also impacted water supply services. Reports indicate that the island’s airport experienced power issues as well, but operations were maintained with the assistance of backup generators.
The difficulties were not only limited to civilian life; the Bali Police Headquarters and various local police stations also faced power outages. Officers at these facilities had to rely on generators to carry out their duties amid the crisis.
PLN is currently investigating the root cause of the outage, focusing on the damage to the underwater cables crucial for linking Bali to Java’s electrical grid. The company has assured the public that efforts to restore power are underway, although the full extent of the repairs is still being assessed.
Bali is a prominent tourist destination, reportedly hosting 6.3 million overseas visitors last year alone, making the impact of the blackout especially significant for the local economy.
The recent blackout in Bali has drawn comparisons to a similar event affecting several European nations, where people were left stranded in subway cars and elevators. Those outages were reported to require 6 to 10 hours for power restoration.
As teams continue to address the power situation in Bali, residents and officials remain hopeful for a swift resolution to restore normalcy to the island.
For updates regarding the power outage and restoration efforts, residents and tourists in Bali are advised to follow announcements from local authorities and Pertamina, the national electricity provider.
Add a comment