Chile Faces Massive Power Outage Affecting Millions

A significant power outage has struck Chile, affecting vast regions and millions of residents as authorities scramble to identify the cause and restore electricity across the nation.

A widespread power outage in Chile has plunged millions into darkness, impacting essential services and creating turmoil in transportation systems. The event, reported by the national disaster prevention and response agency (SENAPRED), began on Tuesday and covers an extensive area, from the northern regions of Arica and Parinacota to the southern Los Lagos.

Reports indicate that the blackout includes the capital, Santiago, where the Santiago Metro operator had to suspend its services due to the power loss. Video footage shows commuters evacuating stations by walking up escalators that had ceased functioning, while traffic signals across the city failed, leading to chaotic conditions on the roads.

There were significant disruptions to public transport, with long queues forming for the buses that remained operational. Maria Angelica Roman, a worker mentioned in an interview with AFP, expressed concern about making her way home after being let go due to the power cut, remarking on the packed buses available for transport.

Not just public transport has been affected; LATAM Airlines reported potential disruptions to their flights as power shortages continue. Meanwhile, sources close to the situation noted that the world’s largest copper mine, Escondida, was also experiencing power outages.

In response to the developing situation, Interior Minister Carolina Toha took to social media platform X to announce that a meeting would be convened to discuss steps to restore services. SENAPRED has assured the public that electricity companies are diligently investigating the underlying issue causing the outage and working on restoring power, although so far, no emergency situations have been reported.