Power outages in Ecuador will last 12 hours a day, authorities have announced. Earlier, they had said the outages would last eight hours a day due to the drought-induced energy crisis.
Ecuadorian authorities said last week that eight-hour power cuts would be imposed across the country. Energy Minister Antonio Goncalves said the power outages were caused by persistent adverse weather conditions in areas where the dams are located.
On Monday, however, authorities said the forced blackouts would have to last 12 hours a day. Ecuadorian electricity suppliers also updated the schedules for the planned blackouts, which are expected to last until Sunday. Initially, the blackouts were supposed to last until Thursday.
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Power outages introduced in EcuadorFERNANDO GIMENO/PAP/EPA
Ecuador without electricity
“The climate is crazy, it's changed a lot,” Goncalves said. The energy minister added that the dry season had started two months earlier. “We rely a lot on hydrology. I can't predict something that only God knows,” he said.
Earlier, speaking at the General Assembly UN President Daniel Noboa said that Ecuador is experiencing its worst drought in 61 years. “It’s much worse than expected,” he stressed.
Main image source: FERNANDO GIMENO/PAP/EPA