Nationwide blackout expected to last several days as two main power plants shut down due to lack of fuel.

Lebanon has been plunged into darkness after its two main power plants ran out of fuel, causing a complete collapse of the national electricity grid. The outage is expected to last for at least two days, and possibly longer, as the country continues to grapple with a severe financial crisis.

Both the Zahrani and Deir Ammar power stations ceased operations, with the former running out of fuel on Saturday afternoon. This comes as Lebanon struggles to secure enough dollars to pay for essential fuel imports, further exacerbating the economic turmoil that has already decimated the local currency and halted the economy.

With the power grid offline, the country’s reliance on neighborhood generators has become even more critical. However, the demand for fuel is now so high that these generators are unable to meet the needs of the population, threatening essential services like healthcare. Additionally, the skyrocketing price of fuel due to the economic crisis has left many citizens unable to afford even the smallest amount, compounding the country’s woes.