At around 8.00 a.m. a lightning strike on the high-voltage lines exiting a thermal power plant cut the supply of electricity. The power cut affected 190 000 users, i.e. 80% of households in Martinique, up until 1.00 p.m. A second power cut occurred the next day between 1.30 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. The operator held a press conference the same day.