Chile Plunged into Darkness: Unprecedented Power Outage Affects Millions

SANTIAGO, Chile — A massive power outage hit Chile on Tuesday, leaving millions in the dark. Commuters were stranded, businesses faced major disruptions, and internet services went down as officials raced to fix the problem.

The government declared a state of emergency, implementing a curfew that lasts until 6 a.m. Wednesday. With no electricity, people struggled with water shortages as pumps failed. Emergency generators kept hospitals and key government services running.

Interior Minister Carolina Tohá addressed the situation after sunset, emphasizing public safety. “This was something no one planned for,” she said. Security forces were dispatched to manage traffic and ease the chaos.

By 10 p.m., over 7 million people were still without power, and the blackout affected 14 regions of the country. The National Electrical Coordinator reported issues with a crucial high-voltage transmission line that carries electricity from northern Chile to the capital, Santiago. The cause of the failure was still unclear.

The blackout disrupted daily life. Traffic lights went dark, leading to halted transport, canceled classes, and postponed cultural events. Businesses, particularly restaurants and bars, faced losses due to the shutdown. Many people reported feeling trapped in subway cars, and older adults expressed fears about using inoperative elevators.

Jorge Calderón, a Santiago resident, described the scene as chaotic. He noted the worries about food spoiling in the heat. The national disaster service, Senapred, confirmed that outages affected nearly the entire country, including Santiago, a city with about 8.4 million residents. Subway services were suspended until further notice.

Tohá mentioned that backup generators were essential for hospitals and other critical facilities. Authorities worked to safely evacuate passengers from dark subway stations and tunnels, especially in tourist-friendly areas like Valparaiso.

Footage shared on social media showed intersections in confusion as traffic lights failed, with some people using their phone lights in the metro system. Transport Minister Juan Carlos Muñoz advised people to stay home until the transportation system was back to normal. Only about 27% of city traffic lights were operational.

At Santiago International Airport, terminals had switched to emergency power, but some flights could still be impacted. The state-owned copper mining company, Codelco, announced that the blackout affected all of its operations.