Ecuador: Authorities report gradual restoration of power following nationwide outage due to transmission line failure as of the evening of June 19 /update 1

Authorities in Ecuador are reporting that electricity has been restored to many areas as of the evening of June 19 following a nationwide electricity outage due to a transmission line fault that caused cascading blackouts starting at about 15:30 June 19. Government sources claim that 95 percent of power has been restored nationwide. Reports indicate that several neighborhoods in Quito have power, and services have resumed on Quito's metro. The power outage has caused significant disruptions to business, government services, and public transport in major cities, including Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, and Portoviejo, among others.

Lingering disruptions are likely over the coming hours. Commercial disruptions are probable for any affected locations. Ground transport disruptions are likely in areas with malfunctioning traffic signals. Disruptions to telecommunications, including cellular and mobile services, may occur. Power outages could result in the temporary unavailability of essential services, such as automatic teller machines (ATMs) and fueling stations. Blackouts may adversely affect security protocols, including alarm systems and electronic fences; opportunistic criminal activity could increase during electricity outages.