Bali plunged into darkness! The world-famous tourist hotspot suffered a massive island-wide blackout at around 4pm local time on Friday (May 2), leaving thousands of homes, hotels, and businesses without power.
Sweltering heat and no air conditioning hit locals and holidaymakers alike. Authorities warned it could take up to 36 hours to fully restore electricity.
Submarine Cable Disruption Sparks Blackout
Indonesia’s state electricity provider PT PLN blamed the blackout on a submarine cable fault. These cables supply roughly 25% of Bali’s power from Java.
A PT PLN spokesperson said: “The problem is still being investigated.” In the meantime, all power plants on the island were switched off as a safety precaution – making matters worse.
Traffic Chaos and Free Resort Stays
The blackout triggered massive traffic jams as police scrambled to manually direct traffic in Denpasar and busy tourist areas. Some resorts in Kuta even started letting tourists in for free while they battled to keep services running without electricity.
Backup generators have kept essential spots like Denpasar Airport operational, with no flight delays reported so far.
How Long Until Bali’s Lights Come Back?
Social media fans exploded with questions about the outage length. Experts say a full power return could take anywhere from 12 to 36 hours, depending on repairs and prioritising tourist zones.
This blackout draws comparisons to Indonesia’s 2005 mega-outage, which left over 100 million people in the dark.
What Visitors Need to Know
If you’re in Bali, stay safe with these tips:
- Keep hydrated and avoid the heat as much as possible.
- Use battery-powered lights or torches – avoid candles.
- Charge your phones with power banks where you can.
- Follow the latest updates and advice from local authorities.
Emergency services remain on duty as work to restore power continues. Authorities ask everyone to stay calm and patient during the blackout ordeal.
