A power outage in Buenos Aires left over 600,000 customers without electricity during a heat wave. Starting at 12:40 p.m. on March 5, 2025, the blackout caused significant disruptions, including suspended subway services and traffic chaos. This incident reflects the challenges faced by the city’s electric grid amid rising demands and underinvestment in the sector.
In Buenos Aires, a significant power outage affected over 600,000 customers on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, during a severe summer heat wave. The blackout began at 12:40 p.m. due to a failure of a high-voltage power line, compounding the issues after an earlier outage had just been resolved. The Secretariat of Energy reported this incident amidst rising electricity demands during extreme temperatures, where the heat index soared to 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
The outage caused disruption across the city, resulting in the suspension of subway services and the malfunctioning of approximately 50 traffic signals. As a consequence, significant traffic chaos ensued in central and southern Buenos Aires, leading to the mobilization of hundreds of traffic officers to manage the situation. While many commuters were stranded, services resumed later in the afternoon for most tram lines.
Individuals trapped in elevators were rescued by authorities, while pedestrians faced extreme heat on the crowded sidewalks, unable to navigate through the traffic on Avenida 9 de Julio. Regular blackouts in Argentina have been exacerbated by years of underinvestment in the electricity sector, stemming from previous government policies that held electricity rates at artificially low levels. However, under the administration of President Javier Milei, utility rates have increased as part of efforts to encourage foreign investments in energy infrastructure.
The recent power outage in Buenos Aires underscores the vulnerabilities in the city’s electric grid, particularly during periods of extreme heat. With over 600,000 people impacted, municipal authorities faced significant challenges in managing the chaos caused by the blackout. Furthermore, the situation highlights the ongoing issues of underinvestment in the electricity sector, which have been affected by changing governmental policies.
Original Source: apnews.com
