The Earth shakes and the lights go out (how new)
It seems that the planet decided to start the year with a reminder of who’s boss: an earthquake of magnitude 6.5, with the epicentric modesty of San Marcos, Guerrero, shook the south of the country this Friday. And as in the best predictable script, the domino effect was not long in coming: the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), that entity that we always have on the tip of our tongue for its legendary efficiency, reported that the telluric scare left 688,546 users in the dark. Yes, you read that right: almost seven hundred thousand people wondering where the hell they left the candles and power banks.
But stop there! Don’t panic (or yes, a little, to give you excitement). In a plot twist that smacks of a carefully polished press release, the parastatal announced that, in the blink of an eye (or, to be exact, in a matter of hours), its army of enlightened people had managed to restore power to 99.9% of those affected. The stragglers? A select group of 112 users. A figure so low that it’s almost a pity, right? One imagines those homes, the only ones without light in the middle of a sea of bright screens, feeling like they were chosen… for the discomfort.
The restoration spectacle: cranes, vehicles and a lot of optimism
While Mexico City and the State of Mexico were already jumping for joy with their refrigerators working, in Guerrero the repair party was still in full swing. The CFE, in a display of operational transparency that leaves us speechless, detailed its strategic deployment: 354 electrical workers, 79 cranes and 138 vehicles moving as if they were going to save the world, not just some cables. The Papagayo-Cruz Grande and Pinotepa-Ometepec transmission lines, which had initially done their thing, were already operating “normally.” Of course, what is a minor earthquake compared to the power of state logistics?
The most comforting thing – and here we allow a tear of corporate emotion – is that no damage was identified to the sacred infrastructure of the generating plants. Phew! What a relief. Of course, the “civil inspection guides” continue, probably looking for “areas of opportunity.” A wonderful euphemism for wondering if, maybe, maybe, there is something to improve for the next time the floor decides to salsa dance without warning.
In summary, the message is clear: an earthquake can leave thousands without electricity supply, but the CFE machinery is faster than a viral meme. They promise to work until they reach the magical 100%. Meanwhile, the lucky 112 who are still waiting can console themselves with the thought that they are the statistical percentage that makes the story interesting. Life, and the electrical grid, continue their course… between shocks and reconnections.
Were you surprised by the speed of the response or do you think it’s pure bureaucratic theater? Share this ironic chronicle of our flirtation with darkness on your social networks and explore more content about the absurdities and successes of modern life in our current affairs section.
