Nuuk: Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, has experienced a widespread power outage, after strong winds caused a transmission issue at the main Buksefjord hydroelectric power plant, the state utility confirmed.
Reports of the blackout began circulating on social media around 10:30pm local time on January 24, according to media reports. The utility company said gusty winds had triggered a line error on our transmission line and that emergency systems were being used to restore electricity.
By 3:30am (5:30 GMT), around 75 percent of the city’s 20,000 residents had power restored. Officials urged residents to use electricity conservatively while the system continued to reboot. Water supplies and internet connectivity were also affected in some areas.
The outage comes shortly after the Greenlandic government issued a brochure detailing disaster preparedness measures, encouraging residents to store sufficient drinking water, food, medicine, warm clothing, and alternative communication devices for at least five days. Authorities stressed that the guidance was precautionary and did not signal an imminent crisis.
Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, has recently found itself in the geopolitical spotlight with US President Donald Trump’s controversial proposals regarding the island. Although Trump later appeared to back away from the idea of forcibly acquiring Greenland during the World Economic Forum in Davos, he suggested a long-term framework for potential future agreements involving the island and the Arctic region. Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen described the supposed deal as unclear.
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