In Santiago, Chile experienced a massive power outage on Tuesday that affected the entire nation, disrupting transportation and business operations. The blackout left millions of people without power, from the northern port city of Arica down to the southern agricultural zone of Los Lagos.
The Chilean government initially provided no insight into what caused this extensive electrical disruption that spanned over a dozen regions. Even the capital city, Santiago, was not spared, as authorities announced the suspension of subway services indefinitely.
The electricity distributor Saesa, which supplies power to over a million residents, confirmed that the entire national grid had been impacted, affecting their entire customer base.
Across Santiago and other affected areas, including the coastal city of Valparaíso, authorities were busy evacuating commuters from subway tunnels and stations that had been plunged into darkness.
Social media platforms quickly filled with videos showcasing the mayhem unfolding in the streets of this nation of over 19 million people. Traffic lights at key intersections were out, and office buildings were being cleared out as safety precautions.
Adding to the chaos, mobile phone connectivity also experienced outages in several regions across Chile, complicating communication efforts during the crisis.
In response, Interior Minister Carolina Tohá called an emergency meeting with officials and electricity providers as they scrambled to restore power to the affected areas as quickly as possible.
