Ecuador has ordered public and private sector workers to take Thursday and Friday off to save energy in response to unprecedented power outages.
Sudden blackouts began hitting the South American nation on Monday, prompting a furious reaction from president Daniel Noboa, who fired Andrea Arrobo, his energy minister.
Experts point to a drought, triggered by the El Niño weather phenomenon, with Ecuador and other Andean nations heavily reliant on hydroelectric dams harnessing mountain water runoff.
Mr Noboa has blamed the crisis on a combination of “environmental circumstances” and “unheard of acts of corruption and negligence”.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the leader, whose approval rating is about 80 per cent thanks to his recent crackdown on the street gangs terrorising Ecuador, cited 22 “saboteurs” including Ms Arrobo, who he accused of hiding the looming energy crisis from him.
READ MORE:
www.yahoo.com/news/ecuador-introduces-three-day-working-201519974.html