Lebanon struck by power cut as major plants shut down

Lebanon’s two main power plants were switched off on Friday, plunging much of the country into a near-total blackout.

The shutdown – caused by the two plants running out of fuel – worsens a crisis that has seen people receive just two hours of electricity a day. A lack of foreign currency has made it hard to pay overseas energy suppliers.

Pharmacies have also gone on strike over medicine shortages caused by the failure to pay foreign importers.

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