A significant blackout has struck Chile, impacting millions and causing disruptions across 14 of the country’s 16 regions. The outage originated from a failure in a high-voltage transmission line that delivers electricity from the Atacama Desert to Santiago, the capital.
The National Electrical Coordinator, responsible for managing the power grid, has not disclosed the exact cause of the disruption. This incident has resulted in a shutdown of much of the national grid, affecting areas from the northern port of Arica to the southern Los Lagos region.
In response to the crisis, hospitals, prisons, and government facilities are activating backup generators to maintain essential services. Officials are working diligently to restore power throughout the nation, which has a population of approximately 19 million. The Interior Ministry has indicated that if power is not fully restored by sunset, emergency measures will be implemented to prevent further complications.
Videos circulating on social media depict chaotic scenes, including malfunctioning traffic lights and commuters using mobile phones as flashlights in the underground metro system. Police have been deployed to assist with evacuations in various office buildings.
This blackout highlights vulnerabilities in the electrical infrastructure and raises concerns about the reliance on a single power source. As the situation develops, officials continue to monitor and address the impact on daily life.
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