BEIRUT: Lebanon was left without electricity, plunging the country into darkness amid a severe economic crisis, BBC has reported.

Meanwhile, according to Reuters, the country’s two largest power stations, Deir Ammar and Zahrani, had shut down because of a fuel shortage.

The power grid “completely stopped working” and was unlikely to restart for several days, authorities said.

For the past 18 months, Lebanon has endured an economic crisis and extreme fuel shortages, according to BBC.

That crisis has left half its population in poverty, crippled its currency and sparked major demonstrations against politicians, it said.

A lack of foreign currency meanwhile has made it hard to pay overseas energy suppliers.

Many Lebanese people already depend on private diesel-powered generators for power.

These however have become increasingly expensive to run amid the lack of fuel, and cannot cover for the lack of a nationwide power grid.

People were often receiving just two hours of electricity a day in the country before this latest shutdown.

(With inputs from BBC)