Power cuts in Ecuador will run nationwide for 12 hours per day, up from a planned eight, the government said on Monday, citing the country's urgent energy crisis caused by the worst drought in the Andean country's recent history.

Ecuador's government has announced the suspension of electricity service for nine hours on Sunday in 12 of the Andean nation's 24 provinces and placed 19 areas on red alert due to a drought that has reduced

QUITO — Ecuador will begin scheduled power cuts a day early, the government said Saturday, aimed at rationing electricity as the hydroelectric power-dependent country faces its worst drought in