FREETOWN, Sept. 17, 2025 – Large sections of Sierra Leone’s capital are grappling with a city-wide blackout as the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) works to contain a series of major faults that have crippled Freetown’s power grid.
In an update released Wednesday, EDSA reported a permanent tripping on a main circuit breaker at the Magazine Cut PMT and severe cable damage at key locations including the Church of Latter-Day Saints, Dwazack, and Benjamin Drive off Babadory.
The disruptions have left many homes and businesses without electricity, with some neighborhoods warned they may wait days before service is restored.
The crisis deepened after a blown expulsion fuse at the Coal Ground PMT and heavy sparking on a transformer at Juba Portoh Local. Structural issues are adding to the strain: a fallen wooden pole at Spur Military and a faulty transformer at Mambo 1 Local are compounding outages, while dangerously decayed poles near IPAM-USL in Tower Hill pose a significant safety risk.
EDSA says repair crews are working around the clock, targeting full restoration between today and September 19.
The authority is urging residents to report additional faults via its hotline or local offices as emergency teams continue repairs.
Businesses and residents across the capital remain on edge as the city braces for several more days of uncertainty in its electricity supply.
