Massive Power Outage Plunges Chile into Darkness

santiago, chile - Chile experiences largest blackout since 2010, triggering emergency measures and chaos in Santiago.

State of Emergency Declared

A massive power outage in Chile, the biggest since 2010, left the capital Santiago and large parts of the country in darkness on Tuesday. The Chilean government declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew from 10:00 PM to 06:00 AM (local time) spanning from the northern region of Arica to the southern region of Los Lagos.

The widespread blackout was caused by a malfunction in a high-voltage line in the northern part of the country, stated Minister of Interior Carolina Toha. In Santiago, street lights went out and sirens from emergency services echoed throughout the city. The Santiago metro, a crucial transportation system for millions, was shut down, leading to the evacuation of passengers from stationary trains. Traffic lights went dark at busy intersections, resulting in traffic congestion.

The military has been deployed nationwide to maintain order, according to the Ministry of Interior.

Ernesto Huber, director of Chile's National Electricity Coordinator (CEN), mentioned that the restoration of electricity across the country timeline remains uncertain. However, some areas in the north and south are gradually regaining power. The power outage also affected regions with significant mining activities, including the world's largest copper mine, Escondida, which was left without electricity. Chile is the top copper producer globally.