BRIDGETOWN, Barbados<$> — An island-wide power outage yesterday disrupted water service and air conditioners across Barbados, forcing schools and businesses to close for the day.

The lights went off at 6.10 a.m. after construction workers accidentally disrupted a major supply line from a plant belonging to Barbados Light & Power, the island’s only energy supplier. Power was restored to 75 percent of the population by noon, the utility said.

“We sustained damage to a main power line and we are working hard to have it fixed,” said Stephen Worme, a company spokesman.

While some banks and some other companies closed, office workers at businesses that stayed open in the capital, Bridgetown, gathered outside their buildings to seek relief from sweltering temperatures.

About 280,000 people live in the eastern Caribbean island of Barbados.