Island-wide Blackout Hits Puerto Rico On New Year's Eve

Puerto Rico was hit by a major blackout on New Year's Eve, and the cause remains under investigation (Credit: AFP)

A major power outage plunged much of Puerto Rico into darkness on New Year's Eve, with the US island territory's electric utility saying restoration could take up to two days.

The "island-wide blackout" began at 5:30 am Tuesday (0930 GMT), Luma Energy, which manages power transmission on the island, said in a social media statement.