People gather outside buildings in Santiago, Chile, after a major blackout hit large parts of the country on Tuesday. REUTERS
A huge power outage left most of Chile in the dark on Tuesday, leading the country’s president to declare a state of emergency. The blackout affected 14 out of 16 regions, including the capital, Santiago, where temperatures soared to 30°C (86°F). Around 8 million homes lost electricity, disrupting daily life and causing chaos.
Internet and mobile networks failed in many areas, and parts of Santiago’s transport system shut down, leaving commuters stranded. Authorities scrambled to restore power while investigating the cause of the outage. Officials believe a high-voltage transmission line carrying electricity from the Atacama Desert to central Chile was disrupted, but they have not yet confirmed why it happened.
President Gabriel Boric expressed his frustration, blaming electricity companies for the failure. “It is not tolerable that millions of people have been affected,” he said. He promised strict action against those responsible and launched an investigation.
To ensure public safety, a curfew was imposed from 10 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday. Security forces patrolled the streets to prevent unrest and assist with traffic. Interior Minister Carolina Tohá urged people to remain calm and assured them that efforts to restore power were underway.
Hospitals, prisons, and government buildings switched to backup generators to keep essential services running. Health Minister Ximena Aguilera confirmed that the healthcare system was operating smoothly with emergency power.
By Tuesday evening, about 25% of electricity demand had been restored. Officials said they expected full power to return by early Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, Santiago’s metro system remained suspended, and passengers had to be evacuated in the dark. Social media videos showed commuters walking through dimly lit tunnels, guided by staff.
Santiago’s international airport continued operating on emergency power, but some flights faced delays. Chile’s major airline, LATAM, warned that more flights could be affected. The internet outage also hit businesses and households hard, with connectivity dropping to just 25% of normal levels.
The blackout even disrupted a national soccer match in the Copa Chile tournament, forcing officials to postpone it. In several areas, businesses shut down as cash registers and card machines stopped working.
The power failure affected a vast region, stretching from Arica and Parinacota in the north to Los Ríos and Ñuble in the south. Authorities continue to work around the clock to restore full power and prevent further disruptions.
