Widespread Blackout Plunges Eastern Libya Into Darkness

Benghazi: Eastern Libya was hit by a widespread blackout late Thursday, leaving large parts of the region without power, according to local media and footage from affected areas, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. Large sections of Benghazi were plunged into darkness, while footage from Marj showed streets and neighbourhoods without electricity. Local reports said the outage affected cities and towns across much of eastern Libya. According to Nam News Network, the Electricity Ministry in Libya's eastern-based government appointed by the House of Representatives stated that several generation units had returned to service, allowing electricity supplies to begin recovering gradually. The ministry announced that power had been restored to Benghazi's 1,200-bed hospital and to several neighbourhoods in the southern part of the city. Technical teams were continuing work across generation, transmission, and distribution networks to restore electricity to the remaining affected areas. The ministry further explained that loads were being brought back gradually to protect the stability of the power grid. Earlier, it was highlighted that technical teams were working to determine the cause of the outage. Libya has been experiencing deteriorating security and public services in recent weeks, including conflicts in the western cities of Zawiya and Sorman, drone attacks on oil facilities in Zawiya, and a severe electricity crisis. Two rival governments have contested power in Libya for years. Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah's internationally recognised Government of National Unity is based in Tripoli and administers western Libya. The country remains divided between the Tripoli-based government and a rival administration appointed by the House of Representatives and headed by Osama Hammad in Benghazi. The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has sought to resolve political disputes that have delayed long-awaited national elections, which Libyans hope will help end years of political division and armed conflict following the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.