Un tornado surprised the province of San Juan late in the afternoon, causing a widespread blackout in more than a hundred communities and damage to the power grid. According to reports Dominican Edesur, the gust knocked down six posts from the line 69 kV San Juan II–Las Matas de Farfán, which left the substations out of operation Las matas y Elias Piña.
The phenomenon was accompanied by heavy downpours and strong winds, with chain effects on the infrastructure: in addition, the fall of three posts on the circuit towards pajonal, as well as loose cables and obstructions on several roads. The incident was recorded around 16:52, causing traffic disruptions and delays.
Impact on electricity supply
Service interruption It originated after the collapse of 6 positions in the 69 kV line that links Saint John II to Las Matas de Farfan. The exit from the substations Las matas y Elias Piña amplified the scope of the blackout, leaving power to more than 100 locations area.
In parallel, the meteorological event affected the circuit that leads to pajonal, where the fall of three other postsThe combination of downed poles, cables on the ground and heavy rain forced safety maneuvers to be prioritized before re-energizing sections of the network, with the aim of avoid risks for residents and drivers.
Affected areas and communities
The cut reached rural and urban areas of wide radius. Among the localities without supply are Commander, The Guayabo, Pinzón, The Rinconcitos, Guaroa, MacacÃa, The Pine, Christ the Savior, Villa Ortencia, Hill of the Goat, Galindo, Delicia, The Mangos, Villa Progreso, The Llano, The Rebozo, The Gate, New Neighborhood, Matayaya, The Yareyes, Olivero, The Barrancones, The Jobos, Half Moon, Barrero, White Colt, Potroso, Peter Santana, Bánica, Sabana Larga, Hato Viejo, Higüero, Sabana Mula and Sabana Cruz.
Damage was also reported in El Cercado, The Ranch, The Mamon, The Ranch, Majagual, The Colony, The Vallecito, Bartolo, Hill In The Middle, Pinal Grande, Sonador, john santiago, Chen Savannah, The Bananas, The Zahonada, The Vallecito, The Fountain, Hondo Valley, The Corners, The Palmita, Open the Yaya, The Pine, Ginger Savannah, The Razor and Guayabal.
In the environment of Las Matas de Farfan Power outages were reported in the town center and neighborhoods such as Villa Esperanza, Pueblo Nuevo, La Milagrosa, La Antena, El Cristo, Villa Carmen, Escondido, Yabonico, Carrera de Yegua, Los Corocitos, La China, Cañada Segura, Guayabal, El Mamoncito, Arroyo Salado, Espinosa, Luis Simon, La Laguna, Los Alejos, Potroso, La Piedra, Pozo Hondo, Los Candelones, Los Limones, El Naranjo, El Batey, Los Cerritos, Angola, Los Aposentos, Pajonal, Los Amargos, Severino Barrero, La Gallera, Los Cartones, Barrio La Cruz, Las Minas, Los Gringos, Cañada Grande, Barrio Blanco, Los Copeyes and Bread of sugar.
Traffic and road safety
The fall of poles and cables caused occasional blockages on highways and country roads, with traffic jams at several access points. The incident occurred at approximately 16:52 p.m., coinciding with the period of greatest rainfall, which required extreme precautions to safely clear each affected section.
Authorities and technical teams recommend driving with prudence, avoid flooded areas and do not approach downed cablesUntil the service is normalized, it is suggested to disconnect sensitive devices and keep them at hand. flashlights and batteries backup.
Edesur operation and restoration times
Edesur deployed crews and specialized personnel to raise poles, redo sections of cabling, clear obstacles on the road and restore supply in the shortest possible time. The work is being carried out in phases, prioritizing critical points and the safety of workers and the public.
Once the damaged segments have been secured and the conditions of the 69 kV line, load will be replenished at the substations Las matas y Elias PiñaThe company insists that its goal is to speed up replenishment without compromising the security protocols established for events of this nature.
Weather conditions and evolution of the episode
The tornado broke out in a context of Torrential rains and gusty winds, enough to cause concentrated damage over short distances. In this type of episode, the combination of saturated soil and intense gusts favors the instability of poles and trees close to the infrastructure.
The population is recommended to follow only official channels to learn about the progress of work and the status of the network, as well as to report any security incidents they detect in their environment.
The priority now is reconnect progressively to the affected communities, completely clear the tracks and check the integrity of the facilities on the line 69 kV San Juan II–Las Matas de Farfán, while the crews of Dominican Edesur They continue on the ground until the service is normalized.