{
  "id": 14624450,
  "title": "Batam blackout may have been caused by lightning, bat interference: Minister",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/batam-blackout-may-have-been-caused-by-lightning-bat-interference",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T05:50:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/indonesia-batam-blackout-lightning-bat-disrupting-businesses-6461426"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "The widespread power outage is estimated to have caused economic losses of around 233.5 billion rupiah (US$13 million), according to economic experts.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}