A pipeline explosion in Eastern Ghouta has knocked out power plants serving Damascus, officials said on September 30. The blast took the Deir Ali, al-Nasiriyah and Tishreen plants offline. Large parts of the capital region lost electricity. Emergency crews are working to repair the damage and restore supply. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. Eastern Ghouta is a suburb east of Damascus that saw heavy fighting during Syria’s civil war. Power infrastructure in Syria remains fragile after years of conflict. In a separate attack the same day, a bus bombing in Homs killed seven people. No group has claimed responsibility for either attack. Syria’s new government faces major security challenges as it tries to stabilise the country. Rebuilding infrastructure is a top priority. The outages add to the daily struggles of residents who already face fuel and electricity shortages. The government has promised an inquiry, while residents brace for more blackouts in the coming days.