Massive Power Outage Hits Mayotte on December 23, 2025, Disrupts Daily Life and Services

A severe electricity outage struck the island of Mayotte on the afternoon of December 23, 2025, affecting the entire territory and causing significant disruption to daily life and essential services. The power failure began around 13:35 (local time) due to a transformer failure at the Longoni power plant, which triggered cascading outages across the island's network.

According to reports from Électricité de Mayotte (EDM), restoration efforts were underway throughout the day. By 16:00, around 20% of customers had regained power, particularly in the northern and central areas, and this number had risen sharply to 92%—approximately 50,000 households—by 16:30. EDM expected full power restoration before the end of the day.

The outage severely impacted key infrastructure, especially the island’s water supply systems, leading to interruptions in water production and storage. This caused sporadic water cuts and compelled extended water supply cycles, further complicating life for residents. Communication networks also suffered due to power loss at relay antenna stations.

The prefecture of Mayotte was actively monitoring the situation, particularly the health risks for home-hospitalized patients, collaborating closely with local health services to safeguard vulnerable individuals. Authorities issued advisories urging residents not to overload telephone networks or interfere with electrical installations, and to seek assistance at nearby gendarmerie or fire stations if necessary.

Restoration work continued throughout the afternoon with officials emphasizing the situation was under control. They acknowledged the complex challenges caused by the transformer failure but reassured the public of ongoing efforts to normalize conditions swiftly.

This incident marks one of the most significant electricity disruptions in Mayotte in recent times, revealing vulnerabilities in the island’s energy infrastructure and highlighting the urgent need for resilient service management. Local authorities remain vigilant to prevent any longer-term repercussions on essential services and public health.