Last updated November 9, 2026 at 17:00 UTC. This page is updated in place as the situation changes, rather than published as a new article each time.
A drone attack on the Khor Mor gas field in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region has triggered widespread power outages across the area, disrupting electricity supplies to cities including Sulaymaniyah and surrounding communities. The strike damaged facilities at the field, which is one of the region’s most important energy assets and supplies the natural gas that fuels several major power stations.
Khor Mor, located southeast of Kirkuk and operated by Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum, provides much of the feedstock for the Kurdistan Region’s electricity generation. When gas flow from the field is interrupted, power plants dependent on it are forced offline or into reduced output almost immediately. That is what happened here: generation dropped sharply, and grid operators had little reserve capacity to fill the gap, leaving large numbers of homes and businesses without power.
Readers in the affected area may notice extended outages, rolling blackouts, reduced water pressure (pumping stations depend on electricity), fuel shortages at petrol stations with non-working pumps, and spotty mobile service as cell towers run down their backup batteries. Hospitals and critical facilities are typically prioritized and run on generators, but strain on backup systems grows the longer the outage lasts.
What to watch and how to prepare
First, expect restoration to be gradual. Even once the field is secured, restarting gas supply and re-synchronizing power plants takes hours to days. Conserve phone batteries and keep devices charged whenever power flickers back on. Second, if you rely on a generator, run it outdoors only — carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the leading causes of death in prolonged blackouts. Third, keep refrigerators closed as much as possible; food generally stays safe for about four hours unopened, and a full freezer holds temperature for roughly 48 hours.
It is worth noting that this outage has a clear physical cause — a targeted attack on energy infrastructure — and is not related to space weather or grid equipment failure of the kind geomagnetic storms can produce. The event does, however, highlight how vulnerable power systems are when generation depends on a small number of critical facilities.
Data and reporting on this event come from field operator statements and regional authorities; this site normally sources alert data from NOAA, USGS, and NWS.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long until power is restored?
There is no confirmed timeline yet. Restarting gas supply from Khor Mor and bringing dependent power plants back online typically takes hours to several days, depending on the extent of the damage, so expect phased restoration rather than an all-at-once return.
Is this connected to space weather or a geomagnetic storm?
No. This blackout has a direct, confirmed cause: a drone attack that damaged the gas field supplying the region's power plants. It is unrelated to solar activity or grid failure from natural causes.
Who is affected by the outage?
Communities across Iraq's Kurdistan Region, particularly around Sulaymaniyah, that depend on electricity generated from Khor Mor gas. Hundreds of thousands of households and businesses are reporting lost or intermittent power.
What should I do right now if I'm in the affected area?
Charge phones and battery packs whenever power is available, keep fridge and freezer doors closed, and use flashlights instead of candles. If you use a generator, run it outside and away from windows to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
Update History
Earlier updates on this page, newest first:
- Nov 8, 2026 – Ukraine: Russian strikes leave hundreds of thousands without power (France 24)
- Nov 8, 2026 – Inside the ‘Black Sky’ plans for a nationwide blackout (Herald.Wales)
- Nov 7, 2026 – Putins Devastating Energy War On Kyiv; Ukraine Capital Paralysis Amid Widespread Blackout (The Times of India)
- Nov 6, 2026 – Questions remain after widespread Washington County power outage (KUTV)
- Nov 5, 2026 – PlayStation Hits Record 127 Million September Users Despite PS Blackout and No Disc, No Buy Campaigns (TwistedVoxel)
- Nov 4, 2026 – Video: School breaks have been extended in occupied Crimea due to a widespread blackout (UA.NEWS)
- Nov 3, 2026 – BREAKING: Widespread Power Outage Disrupts Water Supply Across Six Gauteng Municipalities (Central News South Africa)
- Nov 2, 2026 – Russian Strikes Leave Hundreds Of Thousands Without Power In Ukraine (Yahoo)
- Nov 2, 2026 – Russian strikes leave hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without power (www.mojkraj.hr)
- Nov 1, 2026 – Widespread power outage reported south of Lake Charles (KPLC 7 News)
- Oct 31, 2026 – Russia’s Baltic Exclave Goes Dark as Major Power Plant Failure Triggers Widespread Blackout (UNITED24 Media)
- Oct 30, 2026 – Tens of thousands without power in Anchorage and Mat-Su as high wind slams Southcentral (Alaska Public Media)
- Oct 29, 2026 – Widespread power outage hits Helena Thursday afternoon; NWE says 16K customers affected (The Independent Record)
- Oct 28, 2026 – Power Outages Affecting Millions Across Africa Amid Continent’s Energy Investment Gap
- Oct 27, 2026 – RSF Drone Attacks Cause Widespread Blackout in Southeast Sudan
- Oct 26, 2026 – Storm Boelo Leaves Tens of Thousands Without Power Across UK
- Oct 25, 2026 – Storm Boelo Knocks Out Power to Thousands of Homes Across Western Ireland and Connacht
- Oct 24, 2026 – Storm Boelo: Thousands of UK Homes Still Without Power as Next Storm Approaches
- Oct 23, 2026 – Storm Austen Knocks Out Power to Thousands of Homes in South-West England
- Oct 22, 2026 – Widespread Internet Blackout Reported in North Korea as State Websites Go Dark
- Oct 21, 2026 – Major Power Outage Hits 1.9 Million Maryland Customers; Officials Urge 3-Day Water Supply
- Oct 20, 2026 – Nationwide Blackout Hits Sri Lanka After Coal Plant Trip Destabilizes Grid
- Oct 19, 2026 – Nationwide Blackout in Sri Lanka: Grid Operators Ask Solar Owners to Disconnect
- Oct 18, 2026 – Nationwide Blackout Leaves Sri Lanka in the Dark for Six Hours
- Oct 17, 2026 – Sri Lanka Hit by Nationwide Power Blackout
- Oct 16, 2026 – Widespread Power Outages in Ukraine After Large Missile and Drone Strikes
- Oct 15, 2026 – Northern California PG&E Shutoffs Leave Tens of Thousands Without Power
- Oct 14, 2026 – Widespread Power Outage Reported in Concord
- Oct 13, 2026 – Storms Knock Out Power to Hundreds of Thousands of Customers
- Oct 12, 2026 – Alice Springs emergency: Severe storm leaves 9,000 without power, widespread property damage
Keep tracking this:
Source: The Jerusalem Post
Related Reading
Sky & Solar Conditions at the Time
Moon: New Moon (0% illuminated), in Scorpio.
Notable planetary angles: Venus sextile Mars (60°), Venus sextile Jupiter (58°), Mars conjunct Jupiter (3°), Moon square Mars (87°).
Concurrent space weather: planetary Kp index 2.0; strongest recent solar flare: nothing notable.
This is a factual snapshot, not a claim of cause and effect – researchers are divided on whether lunar, planetary or solar factors influence seismic or weather activity. It’s included so readers can track the pattern for themselves over time.
