Chile Faces Widespread Power Outage Amidst Urban Chaos

On Tuesday afternoon, a significant power outage affected millions in Chile, particularly in Santiago, as an electricity transmission line failed. The Metro was suspended, leading to chaos at stations and street closures, while businesses struggled without power. Amidst the turmoil, the government enacted a state of emergency.

On Tuesday afternoon, Chile experienced a major power outage that left over eight million households without electricity when an electricity transmission line failed. The capital, Santiago, was severely affected, with the entire underground train system halting operations shortly after the power loss. Thousands of commuters faced chaos as they sought to return home, trapped in darkened metro stations and left scrambling for alternative transportation.

One passenger described the scene, saying, "We were like sardines in the dark," as metro trains suddenly stopped and passengers had to navigate through pitch-black tunnels. Emergency responders were called upon to assist those trapped in lifts, including a woman in her 70s who had to attract attention by kicking the door and screaming until firefighters rescued her. Video clips circulated online depicting metro passengers using their cellphone flashlights to find their way amid the disruption.

While the evacuation of the metro system was completed within 90 minutes, the outages continued to affect daily life. The public transport system, which generally accommodates around 2.3 million passengers daily, was overwhelmed. Over 150 additional buses were provided, but they were insufficient to meet the demand, leading to extensive queues at bus stops. Frustrated commuters reported packed buses either failing to stop or being completely filled.

Local businesses bore the brunt of the power outage, with many closing doors as cash registers, fridges, and payment systems became inoperable. “People started closing up at around 4 or 5pm,” lamented a shopkeeper from Santiago. Traffic across the city was also impacted severely, as malfunctioning traffic lights resulted in multiple accidents and additional congestion, forcing many pedestrians to walk long distances under the sweltering sun.

In the amusement park Fantasilandia, a concerning scene unfolded as visitors found themselves stranded on top of an amusement ride. The park manager confirmed that while backup generators were available, attractions would not be immediately operational for safety reasons. Hospitals were also affected but relied on emergency generators.

As night fell, the government declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew from 10 PM to 6 AM, deploying soldiers and police to manage crowds. With the chaos enveloping the city, some residents turned to social media to share glimpses of the night sky, reveling in an unexpected beauty amidst the darkness - a reminder of the light pollution-free view of the Milky Way overhead.