Lebanon Faces Nationwide Blackout Amid Fuel Shortage

Crisis Strikes as Lebanon Faces Complete Power Shutdown

Publish date: Sunday، 18 August 2024

Lebanon Faces Nationwide Blackout Amid Fuel Shortage

Lebanon has been hit by a nationwide power outage after the state power provider, Electricite du Liban (EDL), was forced to shut down its last operational unit at the Zahrani power plant due to the depletion of fuel oil reserves on August 17.

The blackout is crippling critical infrastructure across the country, affecting everything from ports and water pumping stations to Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY), where flight delays and cancellations are now possible.

The South Lebanon Water Establishment has also reported significant disruptions in water pumping capabilities, urging the public to conserve water immediately.

Traffic signals have gone dark, leading to potential traffic disruptions and longer commutes. Essential services like ATMs, filling stations, and security systems are down, heightening concerns about an increase in opportunistic crimes and vandalism.

Authorities estimate that power restoration could take 24-48 hours, but the timeline is contingent on the replenishment of fuel supplies.

The outage may spark demonstrations, particularly near government buildings, as public frustration grows. A heightened security presence is expected at any protest sites, with the possibility of clashes if demonstrators refuse to disperse.

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Lebanon Faces Nationwide Blackout Amid Fuel Shortage

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