“Heat My Iron on a Comal”: Belize City 12 Hrs Without Power

It was almost a twelve-hour power outage that left several Belize City residents without electricity on Tuesday. The blackout disrupted homes, businesses, and even the eRide Bus Service.

Extended outages like this can put food at risk. Perishable items in refrigerators and freezers can spoil if left above 40°F (4°C) for several hours, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

It is recommended to keep fridge doors closed and avoid refreezing food that has fully thawed. According to studies, food that has been above 40°F for more than four hours should be discarded to avoid foodborne illness.

Many residents and service providers shared their frustrations on social media. Some were worried about their food supplies, while others spoke out on how businesses without backup generators introduced a challenge to product integrity.

Chef Ainsle told News 5, “I always have a lee generator on standby, so I was kind of prepared for it.” He added, “However, if the power outage was any longer than a day, I mih wa tek a lee L. Because it would have then cost me in terms of my meats and so.”

Another vendor who sells juices said his business was affected too. “Thankfully, they [customers] understand. I like that and they are willing to accept that there’s no current and we can’t have a continuous cold drink as they would like it.” He explained that his stock of ice could only last so long before it melted.

Household chores were also disrupted during the outage. One resident told News 5, “I had to go back to the good old days and heat my iron on a comal.” Others improvised further, using frying pans when a comal was unavailable to avoid damaging their electric irons.

Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) confirmed the unplanned outage occurred at 12:32 a.m. According to the company, “The outage was caused by a transmission line fault outside the West Lake Substation at Mile 8 on the George Price Highway.”

The affected areas included Belize City up to Mile 1 on the Phillip Goldson Highway and Mile 1 on the George Price Highway. Power supply was partially restored at 2:30 a.m. and was then fully restored by 12:11 p.m.

“We thank our staff and contractors who responded swiftly during the early hours of the morning to begin restoration efforts,” BEL added.