Widespread Power Outages Force Temporary Suspension of Medan's Electric Bus Service

Massive power outages hit several provinces in Sumatra, including North Sumatra, since Friday 22 May at 18:44 WIB, affecting households, offices, and public transport in Medan. The electric bus service in Medan announced a temporary halt on 23 May via its official Instagram account @officialbuslistrik, citing disruptions to the power supply. “Due to the power supply disruption in Medan, the electric bus operations are temporarily not operating until the electrical conditions return to normal and are deemed safe,” the post read. The operators also said the resumption schedule would be announced after the electrical conditions in Medan truly recover. “We apologise for the inconvenience and ask the public to use alternative transportation for now. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation,” it added. Separately, Medan City Transportation Agency head Irsan Idris Nasution confirmed the information, saying, “Yes, they are not operating for now.” The widespread outage across North Sumatra has affected various activities, from households and offices to public transport, and as of Saturday midday several areas in Medan were still experiencing outages. There were no disruptions to train journeys.