Emiola Osifeso
Numerous communities across Sierra Leone’s Western Area have been plunged into darkness following multiple major technical faults on the national distribution network, the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) announced late on Saturday, November 8, 2025.
According to EDSA, the widespread power failure is not due to generation shortages, but directly linked to extensive sectional damages within the distribution grid. These include burnt and faulty underground Low Voltage (LV) feeders, malfunctioning installations, and damaged overhead cables that supply electricity to homes, businesses, hospitals, and public institutions across the capital’s outskirts.
The faults, EDSA said, occurred at different points in the network but created cumulative impact, cutting off supply to multiple communities simultaneously. The authority stressed that the scale of the technical breakdown is significant and will require intensive repair work, engineering interventions, and possibly replacement of burnt components before stable power can be restored.
The affected locations are widespread. They include Funkia, Hastings, Tombo Park, Tengbeh Town, Wilkinson Road, and Regent. In addition, major public facilities and notable landmarks have been disrupted. Among them ADRA Hospital in Waterloo, the Lagoonda Hotel, Collegiate School, and the busy commercial corridors around Cockerill and Sterling Product.
The blackout has sparked concerns among residents and business owners, many of whom rely heavily on electricity for refrigeration, production, entertainment, and basic home needs. Some communities have raised fears that prolonged power cuts may also increase security risks at night.
EDSA said it has already deployed technical teams to various sites to isolate the faults and begin replacement and repair works. However, no specific timeline has been given yet for full restoration. The utility has appealed to the public for patience, noting that engineers are battling to restore power “within the soonest possible time.”
The authority is expected to provide further updates as the restoration work continues.
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