**Just In:** A widespread power outage has plunged Seoul, South Korea, into darkness this evening, Saturday, July 11, 2026, amidst an intense heatwave. The blackout, which began at approximately 7:15 PM KST, has affected millions of residents across the capital city, disrupting daily life and straining emergency services. The exact cause remains under investigation, but authorities are linking it to the extreme demand on the power grid due to record-breaking temperatures.
Initial reports indicate that the power failure originated from a critical substation in the southern part of Seoul. Eyewitnesses described sudden darkness descending, with traffic lights going out and businesses forced to close. “It was like a switch flipped,” said local resident Min-jun Kim. “One minute everything was normal, the next, pitch black.” Official figures on the exact number of affected households are still being compiled, but preliminary estimates from the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) suggest over 5 million customers are without power. Emergency services have been inundated with calls.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has declared a state of emergency for the capital. “Our priority is the safety of our citizens,” Mayor Oh stated in a hastily arranged press conference. “We are deploying all available resources to address this crisis and restore power as quickly as possible.” KEPCO spokesperson Lee Ji-eun confirmed that engineers are working around the clock. “We are investigating all potential causes, including equipment failure and overload,” Lee said. “We understand the severity of this situation, especially during this heatwave, and are committed to a swift resolution.”
This incident comes as Seoul has been experiencing a prolonged heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) for the past week. The unprecedented demand for air conditioning has placed immense pressure on the nation’s power infrastructure. South Korea has faced similar, albeit smaller-scale, power strain events in the past due to peak summer demand, but the scale of Saturday’s outage is reportedly the largest in recent memory.
Currently, emergency response teams are focused on public safety, ensuring the operation of critical infrastructure like hospitals and subway systems where possible through backup generators. Cooling centers are being established in public buildings for residents without access to air conditioning. Traffic has been significantly impacted, with reports of gridlock in many areas as traffic signals remain non-operational. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has mobilized additional repair crews to the affected substation.
The South Korean government has expressed grave concern. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has convened an emergency meeting with KEPCO officials and relevant ministries. International reaction has been muted, with neighboring countries monitoring the situation. Social media is flooded with images and videos of the darkened city, with the hashtag #SeoulBlackout trending globally. Experts are calling for a long-term review of the power grid’s resilience, especially in light of increasing climate challenges. Dr. Park Seo-yeon, an energy policy analyst, commented, “This event highlights the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades to cope with extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change.”
Authorities have not yet provided a definitive timeline for power restoration, stating that it depends on the outcome of the investigation and repair efforts. KEPCO has indicated that a phased restoration may begin within the next few hours, but a full return to normalcy could take longer. Further updates are expected throughout the night. The implications for Seoul’s economy and residents’ well-being are significant, underscoring the vulnerability of major urban centers to such infrastructure failures.
**Emergency Contact:** For urgent assistance, citizens are advised to contact the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s emergency hotline at 120.
**Social Media Verification:** While many user-generated posts document the outage, official updates are being provided by KEPCO and the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
**Developing story.**
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**Meta Description:** Urgent: Seoul hit by massive power outage amidst heatwave. Millions affected. Emergency response underway. Find out what’s next.
