PHU QUOC, VIETNAM – December 2, 2025:
A significant power outage has struck Vietnam’s premier island destination, Phu Quoc, leaving over 12,000 households and businesses without electricity. The blackout, caused by a severe fault in the critical transmission infrastructure, comes as the island enters its peak year-end tourism season.
The Incident: A Severed Lifeline
The disruption originated from the 110kV Ha Tien – Phu Quoc underground cable system, one of the vital "energy lifelines" connecting the island to the national grid.
According to preliminary reports from the Southern Power Corporation (EVNSPC), the failure was not due to natural causes or equipment aging. Instead, authorities suspect external interference.
Key Detail: A construction unit working on a road project reportedly encroached upon the rigorous electrical safety corridor, accidentally severing or damaging the high-voltage underground cable.
Impact: Tourism and Daily Life Stalled
The outage has had an immediate ripple effect across the island:
Residential Areas: Over 12,000 customers are currently offline. For many local residents, daily activities have been brought to a standstill.
Tourism Sector: With December being a prime month for international and domestic travel, many hotels and resorts have been forced to switch to backup diesel generators to maintain air conditioning and essential services for guests.
Connectivity: There are reports of intermittent mobile signal disruptions in the hardest-hit zones as cell towers rely on grid power.
🛠️ The Race to Restore Power
Repairing a high-voltage underground/submarine cable is a complex, technical challenge that differs significantly from fixing overhead lines.
Immediate Response: Electricity workers have been mobilized to the site to isolate the fault and assess the extent of the structural damage.
Grid Re-routing: Energy authorities are currently attempting to re-route power through alternative lines (such as the 220kV Kien Binh - Phu Quoc line) to restore electricity to critical infrastructure and minimize the blackout area while the main repair is underway.
Investigation: Local authorities have launched an urgent investigation into the construction unit responsible for the alleged safety violation.
Official Warning
This incident highlights a critical issue in Vietnam's rapidly urbanizing areas: the conflict between infrastructure expansion and safety protocols. Energy officials have reiterated the strict necessity of adhering to safety corridors surrounding high-voltage grids, noting that violations not only cause economic damage but pose severe risks to human life.
Updates on the restoration timeline are expected to be released hourly.