Strong winds cause power outages across Paraguay; service largely restored

Paraguay experienced widespread power outages over the weekend due to strong winds that battered much of the country. Representatives from the National Electricity Administration (ANDE) announced on Monday that electricity service has been nearly fully restored nationwide.

The intense gusts, which reached speeds of up to 90 kilometers per hour in some areas between Friday and Sunday, caused significant structural damage to the energy distribution system. Jorge Barrios, ANDE's Regional Management Director, explained that falling trees, uprooted by the powerful winds, were the primary cause of damage to power lines and electrical poles.

In addition to fallen trees, the wind also caused issues with signage in Asunción and its Metropolitan Area, leading to loose cables impacting the power infrastructure. Barrios confirmed that all reported power outage claims were addressed during the weekend, with service largely back online by Sunday evening.

ANDE regularly conducts tree-trimming operations to prevent branches from interfering with power lines. However, Barrios noted that it is challenging to prevent large trees from causing substantial damage to the supply system when they fall due to severe weather conditions.

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structural damage