Power Blackout Hits All Of Puerto Rico As Residents Prepare For Easter Weekend

All 1.4 million customers were affected, Hugo Sorrentini, spokesman for Luma Energy, which oversees the transmission and distribution of power, told The Associated Press.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A power blackout hit all of Puerto Rico on Wednesday as the heavily Catholic U.S. territory prepared to celebrate the Easter weekend.

All 1.4 million customers were affected, Hugo Sorrentini, spokesman for Luma Energy, which oversees the transmission and distribution of power, told The Associated Press. By late Wednesday night, crews had restored power to 175,000 customers, or 12%. Those affected included the main international airport and several hospitals, and at least 328,000 customers were without water.

Hotels were near capacity, with thousands of tourists celebrating Easter vacations on the island. Tourism officials rushed to reassure them that many hotels and other businesses were operating with generators.

“It is unacceptable that we have a failure of this magnitude in the transmission of the electrical system,” said Gov. Jenniffer González, who cut short her weeklong vacation and flew back to Puerto Rico on Wednesday night.

Officials said 90% of clients would likely have electricity 48 to 72 hours after the blackout occurred.