Millions of people in Chile are currently facing a widespread power outage that has halted electricity supplies across the nation. The National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (SENAPRED) confirmed that the outage impacted various regions, including the capital, Santiago. While the precise scale and cause of the outage are still being assessed, it is known to cover areas from Arica and Parinacota in the north to Los Lagos in the south.
In an alarming report by Reuters, the outage has even affected the world’s largest copper mine, Escondida, disrupting operations at a critical economic site. The Santiago Metro halted all services due to the power failure, leading to the evacuation and closure of stations. Videos shared from the scene depict commuters navigating dark platforms and using non-functioning escalators to exit, while numerous people wait in long lines for buses that continue to operate.
Maria Angelica Roman, a 45-year-old worker, expressed her frustration to AFP, stating, “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 a bid to address the crisis, the Interior Minister, Carolina Toha, announced via social media that a meeting would convene to strategize on restoring services. Meanwhile, SENAPRED stated that electricity companies are actively investigating the causes of the outage and working to bring power back online throughout the affected areas.
