Batam blackout may have been caused by lightning, bat interference: Minister
The widespread power outage is estimated to have caused economic losses of around 233.5 billion rupiah (US$13 million), according to economic experts.
A massive power outage hit Batam and other parts of the Riau Islands on Monday, disrupting businesses, communications, and water supply. The blackout, which lasted around 16 hours, may have been caused by lightning-related disruptions and an animal intruder in the power grid, according to Indonesian Minister Bahlil Lahadalia. The economic losses due to the outage were estimated at 233.5 billion rupiah (US$13 million).
Traffic lights, airport operations, public services, and clean water supplies were affected, causing traffic jams and rendering some municipal applications inaccessible. Bahlil stated that the incident highlighted the need for improvements in electricity services and that further investigations would be required.
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