Authorities in Chile declared a state of emergency on Tuesday after a near nationwide power cut plunged the nation into darkness. Chile, which boasts a population of over 19 million people, practically came to a standstill with power cuts leading to internet shortages, stranded commuters and homes without water.
Reports suggest more than 8 million homes were impacted by Tuesday’s power cut, which came as the nation deals with summer temperatures in the 30s. Traffic lights also went dark in 14 of Chile’s 16 regions, and most businesses and institutions were forced to close early as they could not function without electricity.
It also caused chaos to Chile’s transport, with people needing to be evacuated from metro lines. The South American nation’s hospitals and government buildings, however, were reportedly able to continue operating crucial services thanks to backup generators.
In response to the blackout, Chile’s government issued a state of emergency and ordered a curfew to keep people safe between 10pm and 6am. Speaking on Tuesday evening, Chile’s national grid operator suggested that the incident was linked to a high-voltage transmission line that carries electricity from the Atacama Desert to the capital of Santiago.
However, the power operators didn’t identify the root cause of the disruption, which shut down most of the country’s power. Chilean authorities also addressed the chaos, with Interior Minister Carolina Tohá saying: "Our first concern, and the reason for this announcement, is to ensure people's safety." She added: "Obviously, this was something no one planned for.".
President Gabriel Boric has also criticised the country’s electric companies and vowed to hold people accountable to ensure this never happens again. “We are not going to let this pass and we are going to act firmly against companies that have not risen to the occasion,” he said in a statement. “For this reason, all the necessary investigations will be carried out.”.
Others criticised the system’s privatisation, with politician Ana María Gazmuri writing on social media: “The privatization of electricity promised efficiency and better service, but what we have seen are abusive rates, disinvestment and a monopoly in the hands of foreign companies that prioritize their profits over the security of the system.”.
As Chile starts to wake on Wednesday, it's unclear whether electricity has been completely restored. Some reports suggest that electricity has started to resume in some areas. It’s understood that alongside the capital of Santiago, other affected areas included: Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama, Coquimbo, Araucanía, Valparaíso, O’Higgins, Maule, Biobío, Los Lagos, Los Ríos and Ñuble.
