Santo Domingo faces transportation chaos amid nationwide blackout

Santo Domingo.-The nationwide blackout this Tuesday has severely disrupted transportation and traffic across the Dominican Republic, paralyzing major systems and causing widespread congestion throughout Santo Domingo.

The failure of the National Interconnected Electrical System (SENI) led to the shutdown of the Paraíso and Isabela substations, cutting power to Lines 1 and 2 of the Santo Domingo Metro and Line 1 of the Cable Car. The Office for the Reorganization of Transportation (OPRET) reported that service on both systems was immediately suspended. Passengers were safely evacuated from trains and cabins, and the institution confirmed that no users were trapped in elevators or stations.

The blackout also knocked out traffic lights at key intersections in the National District, including Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, and Rafael Augusto Sánchez avenues, leading to severe gridlock during rush hour. Although some intersections remain powered by private backup systems, most are operating without signals. Agents from the General Directorate of Traffic Safety and Land Transportation (Digesett) have been deployed to direct vehicles and minimize the risk of accidents.

Authorities continue working to restore electricity and stabilize transportation operations as citizens face prolonged delays and traffic chaos throughout Greater Santo Domingo.