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CFE blackout leaves hundreds of thousands in dark from Cancun to Chetumal

Cancun, Riviera Maya — Citizens from Cancun to Chetumal were left in an unexpected blackout Friday evening after an electrical fire in La Joya, Campeche.

La Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) says that the blackout, which left hundreds of thousands in total darkness, was due to a fire started for unknown reasons, making it necessary to have to temporarily disconnect the feed that supplies electricity to the region.

The blackout was felt regionally from Cancun to Tulum where thousands were left without power for around 20 minutes. CFE says that the fire caused two high voltage lines that run from Escárcega to Ticúl to become inoperable, causing a lack of electric power in the municipalities of Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Chetumal and Merida.

The lack of electricity affected a total of 351,728 users, of which 254,045 were in Yucatán and 97,683 in Quintana Roo.

La Comisión Federal de Electricidad says that by 10:00 p.m., electrical services throughout the region were restored back to normal.