Evening Calm in Nuuk Disrupted by Power Outage
Saturday evening in Nuuk grew notably quieter at 10:30 PM when a significant power outage swept through the capital. The blackout not only plunged homes into darkness but also disrupted water supplies and the telephone network in various areas.
According to Nukissiorfiit, the root cause of this disruption stemmed from adverse weather conditions in Utoqqarmiut Kangerluarsunngua, also known as Buksefjorden. “Strong winds have caused a line fault on our transmission line,” the company reported on its website.
In the meantime, the local police took to Facebook to advise residents on alternative contact methods should they require assistance. They encouraged people to reach out via a different phone number or to visit the police station in person.
Approximately six hours later, at 4:35 AM, hope returned to Nuuk as the utility company announced that electricity, water, and heat had been restored across the city.
A Call for Preparedness
This power outage coincided with a timely reminder issued by the Naalakkersuisut, urging citizens to be adequately prepared for emergencies. Their recommendations included stocking up on food, water, and essential medications for at least five days, as well as ensuring access to hunting weapons, ammunition, fishing gear, radios, batteries, and emergency generators.
For those interested, details of the full emergency preparedness list can be found on the official government website.
It’s important to note that this is not the first time Nuuk has faced a significant power interruption. Back in December 2021, the capital was hit by a major outage that lasted 18 hours, followed by several shorter blackouts—notably caused by faults in cables from the hydropower plant in Utoqqarmiut Kangerluarsunngua. That incident prompted a state of emergency. Just last December, Nuuk again experienced a power cut, underscoring the importance of those preparedness measures outlined earlier this week.