A devastating power outage has plunged Phu Quoc Island into chaos, sparking outrage and highlighting the fragility of our infrastructure. The culprit? A simple mistake with devastating consequences.
An undersea power cable, vital for the island's electricity supply, was damaged by a contractor building a coastal road. This single error has left tens of thousands of households and tourism facilities in the dark, disrupting daily life and business operations.
The Impact: A Tale of Two Days
For two days, Phu Quoc Island endured a blackout, with some areas going without power and water for up to 40 hours. Hotels, like the Leaf Hotel, were forced to run generators nonstop, driving up costs and causing a logistical nightmare.
Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang, the hotel manager, described the situation as a 'torture' for both tourists and staff. The generator, running loudly for 10 hours a day, disrupted guest comfort, and the hotel's operating expenses skyrocketed, with fuel costs alone reaching VND4 million ($152) daily.
But here's where it gets controversial: the power utility implemented rolling blackouts to prevent overloading the temporary system. This meant that even after power was restored, the situation remained uncertain, keeping everyone 'on edge.'
Local resident Thach Nhu shared her family's struggle, having to travel for water and sleep outdoors to stay cool.
"Adults can manage, but the kids keep crying. None of us can sleep," she said, highlighting the human cost of this outage.
Tourism in Turmoil
Phu Quoc, a popular tourist destination, is in the peak season, hosting the highest number of foreign visitors since 2021. Many hotels are at near-full capacity until February 2026, making the power outage a significant blow to the tourism industry.
Le Thi Hai Chau, a former tourism association leader, emphasized the concern over the negative impact on visitors. With fuel costs and irregular power supply, businesses are facing a challenging situation.
And this is the part most people miss: the 220 kV Kien Binh - Phu Quoc line, an alternative power source, is not connected to the undersea cable in a loop system. This technical constraint led to load shedding and rolling blackouts, affecting around 30,000 customers.
The Southern Power Corporation estimates a repair time of at least one month, weather permitting. In the meantime, authorities are mobilizing generators from An Giang Province to provide temporary relief.
As of now, most households have power, but rotating outages continue due to supply insufficiency. Businesses, especially those relying on dedicated transformers, are still without full power.
Accountability and Action
The 110 kV Ha Tien - Phu Quoc cable has a clearly defined safety corridor, prohibiting any construction activities. The contractor faces potential administrative penalties, compensation demands, or even criminal liability for this oversight.
The provincial government has instructed agencies to verify the situation and determine responsibility.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of infrastructure maintenance and the potential impact of human error.
What are your thoughts on this situation? Do you think enough is being done to address the issue and support those affected? Feel free to share your opinions and experiences in the comments below!
