Full Blackout Hits the Dominican Republic, Crews Scramble to Restore Power

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – A rare nationwide blackout brought the Dominican Republic to a halt Tuesday — leaving nearly eleven million people without power and paralyzing traffic and mass transit.

Officials say a failure in the transmission grid triggered a cascade of shutdowns, including two major generation plants. By Tuesday night, only about fifteen percent of power had been restored.

Energy Minister Joel Santos says electricity will return “little by little,” with transportation and health services prioritized.

Hospitals and banks relied on generators, while many homes and small businesses remained in the dark.