The authorities in Gaza yesterday said the Palestinian territory's only power station has shut down because of a lack of fuel.
The closure is believed to be caused by a shortage in fuel being supplied through smuggling tunnels from Egypt.
Power cuts, already common, are expected to increase. The station provides around 30-40% of Gaza's electricity.
The rest of the electricity used by the territory is supplied by Israel.
The Gaza Power Company said the strip would soon be "swimming in a sea of darkness".
Supplies of fuel smuggled into the territory have diminished due to the recent Egyptian political unrest.