Chile Faces Massive Power Outage: Citizens Trapped and Transport Collapse

Sat Oct 18 2025 19:15:03 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

An extensive power cut left over eight million households in Chile without electricity, halting the underground transport system and trapping citizens in dark and chaotic conditions.

A significant power outage struck Chile, affecting over eight million households and leading to the suspension of Santiago's underground train system. Passengers faced confusion and danger, with many trapped in lifts and dark stations. Emergency services responded and additional bus services were implemented, but with insufficient capacity, thousands were left to walk home in sweltering heat. The incident led to traffic chaos and a state of emergency imposed by the government.

In a catastrophic power outage that struck Chile on Tuesday afternoon, over eight million households were left in the dark following a major failure in the electricity transmission line. This disruption abruptly halted the entire underground transport system in the capital, Santiago, and created a chaotic scene as thousands of commuters struggled to find their way home. One passenger likened the experience to being "like sardines in the dark," reflecting the panic as the trains stalled and lights went out.

Numerous individuals were trapped in lifts during the outage, including a woman in her 70s who had to call for help by kicking the door until firefighters could rescue her. The response time for the Metro de Santiago was commendable, managing to evacuate trapped passengers within 90 minutes. However, the disruption left the public transport network crippled for hours afterward, with additional buses deployed falling short of meeting the demand of an average 2.3 million passengers daily.

As the power went out at around 3:00 PM, businesses throughout Santiago halted operations, with many shops closing early due to the lack of electricity. With traffic lights non-functional, incidents of car collisions increased during the gridlock that ensued, forcing people to abandon public transport in favor of walking home under the scorching summer sun.

In the amusement park Fantasilandia, panic ensued as at least a dozen guests found themselves stuck atop a rollercoaster. Although the park had backup generators, safety protocols delayed the reopening of rides. Hospitals relied on emergency generators to provide necessary care as night fell, leading to the government's declaration of a state of emergency coupled with a curfew from 10 PM to 6 AM. Security forces were deployed to maintain order amid the confusion.

Despite the chaos, some Chileans chose to find positivity in the situation, sharing stunning images of the night sky enhanced by the absence of light pollution on social media. The repercussions of this power outage will likely be felt for some time as the recovery process ensues.