State of Emergency Declared in Chile Following Massive Blackout

A major blackout in Chile led to a state of emergency declared by President Gabriel Boric, affecting 8 million homes. By Wednesday, 90% of power was restored, but investigations into the outage are ongoing. A curfew was imposed to maintain safety during the crisis.

A state of emergency was declared in Chile after a significant electricity blackout on Tuesday that left approximately 8 million homes, including in Santiago, without power. President Gabriel Boric addressed the nation, stating that 14 out of 16 regions were affected. This outage coincides with summer temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) in Santiago.

By Wednesday, about 90% of affected homes and businesses regained electricity, as reported by the Chilean National Electric Coordinator. However, 220,000 customers remained without power. Interior Minister Carolina Tohá confirmed that all public transport services had been restored, and a thorough investigation into the causes of the blackout was initiated. “One thing is the original failure that the company had…and another is how that system responds once the incident occurs,” she stated.

The blackout was attributed to issues with a high-voltage transmission line from the Atacama Desert to Santiago. The President highlighted the responsibility of electricity companies, emphasizing that the situation is “not tolerable.” He assured citizens that investigations would seek accountability for the disruption.

Authorities imposed a curfew from 10 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday to ensure public safety. Essential services, such as hospitals and prisons, switched to backup generators to maintain operations. The national gendarmerie was deployed to uphold security and manage traffic flows.

Transportation was severely impacted; metro services were halted in Santiago, and flights operated at Santiago International Airport were functioning thanks to backup systems. Internet connectivity plummeted to 25% of normal levels, affecting businesses and personal communications. The blackout also led to the suspension of a national soccer match.

The electricity blackout in Chile has had widespread effects, disrupting daily life and compromising public safety. While the majority of power has been restored, the government is investigating the causes and holding electricity companies responsible for the outages. A state of emergency has been declared to ensure citizen safety, highlighting the importance of reliable infrastructure in handling such crises.

Original Source: wsvn.com