Power Restored in Puerto Rico
by Jessica Montevago /After an island-wide blackout hit Puerto Rico nearly seven months after Hurricane Maria, power was restored to previous levels Thursday, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority said.
Officials said an excavator accidentally downed a transmission line Wednesday, leaving more than 1.4 million customers without power.
A dozen businesses were forced to temporarily close, including the island’s largest mall and popular tourist attractions, including a 16th century fort in the historic part of San Juan. Back-up generators were able to keep the main international airport open, where officials reported no cancellations or delays.
The U.S. territory only restored 97 percent of the island’s power since last year’s devastating hurricane. The power authority said it aims to bring the remaining 41,000 customers back online by June.