Puerto Rico plunged into darkness by New Year's Eve blackout

On New Year's Eve, Puerto Rico was engulfed in darkness due to a widespread blackout, highlighting the ongoing power struggles that the US island territory has faced since Hurricane Maria's devastating impact in 2017. This recent outage underscores the fragility of Puerto Rico's power infrastructure, which has seen little to no significant improvements over the years despite recurring power disruptions affecting its residents. Hurricane Maria, a powerful Category 4 storm, struck Puerto Rico in September 2017, causing catastrophic damage to the island's infrastructure, homes, and lives. One of the most enduring challenges in the aftermath has been restoring and modernizing the electrical grid, which was decimated during the storm. Despite efforts to repair and rebuild the grid, residents have continued to experience frequent power outages, raising concerns about the resilience and reliability of the island's power system. The blackout on New Year's Eve was a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that still exist within Puerto Rico's power grid. As families and communities were preparing to welcome the new year with celebrations and gatherings, many found themselves without electricity, highlighting the ongoing struggle to secure a stable and reliable power supply. The recurrent power issues in Puerto Rico not only disrupt daily life but also hamper economic recovery and development. Businesses, schools, and hospitals are among the most affected, experiencing interruptions in their operations and services, which further emphasizes the need for a sustainable and long-term solution to the island's power woes. Efforts to rebuild and enhance Puerto Rico's power infrastructure have