Chile is currently facing a widespread power outage that has left millions without electricity across the country. The national disaster response agency, SENAPRED, reports that this outage affects areas from the northern regions of Arica and Parinacota down to Los Lagos in the south, including the capital city, Santiago.
The exact scale of the blackout is still unclear, but it began earlier today, with significant impacts reported. According to sources, the Escondida copper mine, the largest in the world, is among the facilities affected by the outage. LATAM Airlines has alerted travelers that flight schedules may be disrupted and encouraged them to stay informed about their travel plans.
Santiago's Metro service has been temporarily suspended, necessitating the evacuation of stations as technical crews work to restore power. Videos highlight commuters hiking up non-functioning escalators while traffic signals also remain off, causing disruptions on the roads.
Local resident Maria Angelica Roman, 45, expressed frustration as her workplace released employees early due to the outage, leaving her uncertain about transportation home due to crowded buses. In response to the ongoing situation, the Interior Minister Carolina Toha announced a meeting to formulate a plan to restore services. Meanwhile, SENAPRED has assured that electricity companies are diligently investigating the issue without any emergency conditions reported.