A comprehensive disruption in electricity supply across Chile has forced evacuations, sparked transportation chaos, and affected major industries, including mining and air travel.
Nationwide Power Outage in Chile Affects Millions
Nationwide Power Outage in Chile Affects Millions
A massive power outage has left millions of Chileans without electricity, disrupting daily life and operations nationwide.
In a sudden turn of events, millions are grappling with a sweeping nationwide power outage today that has impacted daily life across Chile. The Santiago-based national emergency service, SENAPRED, confirmed that the outage spans from the northern regions of Arica and Parinacota to the southern Los Lagos region, affecting a significant portion of the population, including those in the capital city, Santiago.
Reports indicate that the incident commenced earlier today, leading to widespread disruptions. The world’s largest copper mine, Escondida, has reportedly been left powerless, a situation confirmed by a source familiar with the situation. Additionally, LATAM Airlines has alerted passengers to potential flight interruptions and encourages them to verify their travel statuses, highlighting the ripple effect of the outage.
Santiago’s public transport system has not escaped unscathed—a statement from the city’s metro operator declared a temporary suspension of services, with stations being evacuated and closed. Eyewitness accounts captured the scene of commuters making their way out of the stations via deactivated escalators, as traffic signals throughout the city remained inoperable. The streets have been overrun with long lines of passengers waiting for the remaining bus services.
Maria Angelica Roman, a Santiago resident, expressed her frustrations to AFP, "They let us leave work because of the power cut, but now I don't know how we will get home because all the buses are full." In response to the emergency, Chile’s Interior Minister, Carolina Toha, noted on social media that a meeting would be convened to address the situation and restore services.
As of now, SENAPRED has stated that utility companies across the affected areas are actively investigating the cause of the outage and are working to resume electricity supplies. Fortunately, they reported no emergent situations connected to the outage, but the disruptions are creating significant challenges for millions of Chileans navigating their daily routines.
Reports indicate that the incident commenced earlier today, leading to widespread disruptions. The world’s largest copper mine, Escondida, has reportedly been left powerless, a situation confirmed by a source familiar with the situation. Additionally, LATAM Airlines has alerted passengers to potential flight interruptions and encourages them to verify their travel statuses, highlighting the ripple effect of the outage.
Santiago’s public transport system has not escaped unscathed—a statement from the city’s metro operator declared a temporary suspension of services, with stations being evacuated and closed. Eyewitness accounts captured the scene of commuters making their way out of the stations via deactivated escalators, as traffic signals throughout the city remained inoperable. The streets have been overrun with long lines of passengers waiting for the remaining bus services.
Maria Angelica Roman, a Santiago resident, expressed her frustrations to AFP, "They let us leave work because of the power cut, but now I don't know how we will get home because all the buses are full." In response to the emergency, Chile’s Interior Minister, Carolina Toha, noted on social media that a meeting would be convened to address the situation and restore services.
As of now, SENAPRED has stated that utility companies across the affected areas are actively investigating the cause of the outage and are working to resume electricity supplies. Fortunately, they reported no emergent situations connected to the outage, but the disruptions are creating significant challenges for millions of Chileans navigating their daily routines.
