Millions of Chileans are currently experiencing a large-scale power outage that has disrupted transportation, including the closure of the Santiago Metro and significant traffic disruptions. The government and electricity companies are working diligently to restore power.
Nationwide Power Outage Strikes Chile, Millions Left in Darkness
Nationwide Power Outage Strikes Chile, Millions Left in Darkness
A significant power interruption has affected vast regions in Chile, including the capital, Santiago, prompting emergency responses.
A widespread power outage has left millions of people across Chile without electricity, cascading into significant disruptions in daily life, particularly in the capital city of Santiago. The incident, which began earlier on Tuesday, has been confirmed by the national disaster prevention service, SENAPRED, affecting a wide area that includes regions from Arica and Parinacota in the north to Los Lagos in the south.
Reports indicate that the abrupt lack of power has notably impacted the operations of essential services; among them is the world’s largest copper mine, Escondida, which has reportedly lost power as well. The Santiago Metro operator announced on social media platform X that services had been temporarily halted, leading to the evacuation of stations and closed facilities.
Videos circulating on social media portray commuters navigating their way up non-functioning escalators as they exit the metro, while traffic signals remain dark and ineffective, causing further congestion on the roads. Passengers are facing long wait times for buses that are still operational, with many expressing frustration at the overwhelming crowds.
Maria Angelica Roman, a concerned commuter, recounted her experience to AFP, saying, "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, Chile's interior minister, Carolina Toha, announced on X that a meeting would convene to discuss measures aimed at swiftly restoring electrical services.
SENAPRED emphasized that electricity companies operating in the affected regions are currently investigating the cause of the outage and are actively working toward a resolution to bring power back to the millions impacted.
