Santiago, Chile – The country of Chile faced a widespread electricity blackout, prompting the president to declare a state of emergency. The blackout affected most of the country, including the capital city of Santiago, leaving around 8 million homes without power during the summer season when temperatures soared to 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).

Chile’s National Disaster Prevention and Response Service reported that 14 out of 16 regions were impacted by the blackout, which began in the afternoon. The outage resulted in the suspension of internet and mobile phone services, as well as disruptions to parts of the transport network in Santiago.

The National Electrical Coordinator, Chile’s grid operator, revealed that a disruption in a high-voltage transmission line from the Atacama Desert to Santiago caused the blackout. The exact cause of the disruption is under investigation.

President Gabriel Boric emphasized the need for the state of emergency to ensure citizens’ safety amid the ongoing blackout, which was anticipated to last through the night. A curfew was implemented from 10 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday as part of the emergency measures.

Interior Minister Carolina Tohá reassured the public of efforts to restore power and maintain operations across the country with a population of approximately 19 million people. Hospitals, prisons, and government buildings switched to backup generators to continue essential services, while the national gendarmerie force was deployed to maintain security and traffic flow.

The blackout halted daily life in Chile, resulting in the suspension of public transport and business operations. Metro services in Santiago were temporarily put on hold, with passengers evacuated from trains. Santiago International Airport managed to operate flights using emergency backup systems, although some disruptions were expected for LATAM Airlines.

The outage also impacted internet connectivity, affecting national connectivity levels, and led to the suspension of a soccer match in the national Copa Chile tournament. While challenges persisted, Health Minister Ximena Aguilera assured that the healthcare network remained operational on generators.

In addition to Santiago, several other regions in Chile, including Arica, Parinacota, Tarapacá, and Valparaíso, experienced the effects of the blackout. The situation continued to unfold as authorities worked to restore full power to the grid.