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.
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.”.
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.
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.
Authorities in Chile declared a state of emergency on Tuesday after a near nationwide power cut plunged the nation into darkness.
