Chile declared a state of emergency in response to a massive blackout caused by a transmission line failure. This outage affected Santiago and major copper mines, prompting curfews and military deployment to maintain order. Power restoration efforts are underway, with some areas regaining electricity, but full recovery timelines are unclear.
On Tuesday, Chile declared a state of emergency following a massive blackout that may have been triggered by an electrical system failure. The Interior Ministry announced that curfews from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (0100 to 0900 GMT) would be enforced across much of the country, including the capital, Santiago. This outage significantly affected major copper mines, impacting global metal markets.
The blackout, classified as Chile’s largest in years, resulted from a failure in a transmission line in northern regions, as stated by Interior Minister Carolina Toha, who dismissed the possibility of a cyber attack. Witnesses described scenes of darkness and chaos in Santiago, including non-functional streetlights and emergency sirens. The Santiago metro system also halted operations, evacuating passengers from stranded trains.
The government mobilized armed forces to assist in maintaining order during this crisis. Ernesto Huber, head of Chile’s National Electricity Coordinator (CEN), indicated that a full restoration of power could take time, though some areas were already beginning to regain electricity. By Tuesday night, parts of Santiago and coastal cities like Valparaiso and Vina del Mar started receiving power again.
CEN has activated several hydroelectric power stations to accelerate the recovery process and is investigating the outage’s cause. Copper mining operations were critically affected, with Escondida and other key mines losing power. Companies reported that they were operating on backup generators while assessing the situation.
According to Chile’s disaster prevention agency, no emergency situations have been reported despite the extensive effects of the blackout from the northern Arica region to the southern Los Lagos region. Santiago’s Arturo Merino International Airport continued operations normally, although LATAM Airlines warned that some flights might experience disruptions.
Interior Minister Toha expressed optimism that electrical services would return soon, stating, “We hope that what we’ve been told will happen, that in the next few hours we’ll have electrical service back.”
Chile’s declaration of a state of emergency followed a significant power outage attributed to a transmission line failure. The outage impacted key infrastructures, including mining operations and public transportation in Santiago. While the government has mobilized resources for restoring power and maintaining order, significant disruptions remain across the country. The full recovery timeline is yet to be determined.
Original Source: www.france24.com
