In a shocking turn of events, a major electricity transmission line failure plunged over eight million households across Chile into darkness on Tuesday afternoon. The cascading outage led to the suspension of the capital's underground train system, leaving thousands stranded. One underground passenger likened their predicament to being "sardines in the dark" as firefighters rushed to rescue those trapped in lifts.
In the chaos, a woman in her 70s found herself stuck between floors, resorting to kicking the lift door to signal for help. Emergency crews had to evacuate metro stations, but while they managed to clear the underground 90 minutes post-outage, the impact lingered throughout the city, throwing transportation into turmoil.
Long queues formed at bus stops as frustrated commuters struggled to find alternative rides, exacerbated by traffic light failures that led to accidents across the city. Many chose to walk home, braving the intense summer heat while some lorry drivers helped out with impromptu lifts.
Restaurants and shops faced closures due to malfunctioning cash registers and refrigeration systems. The amusement park Fantasilandia became a dramatic focal point where guests were stuck atop rides, waiting for emergency responses due to power constraints.
As night fell, the government declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew, deploying police and soldiers to maintain order. Amid the pandemonium, some Chileans took to social media to celebrate the unexpected view of the milky way, highlighting a silver lining amidst the crisis.
In the chaos, a woman in her 70s found herself stuck between floors, resorting to kicking the lift door to signal for help. Emergency crews had to evacuate metro stations, but while they managed to clear the underground 90 minutes post-outage, the impact lingered throughout the city, throwing transportation into turmoil.
Long queues formed at bus stops as frustrated commuters struggled to find alternative rides, exacerbated by traffic light failures that led to accidents across the city. Many chose to walk home, braving the intense summer heat while some lorry drivers helped out with impromptu lifts.
Restaurants and shops faced closures due to malfunctioning cash registers and refrigeration systems. The amusement park Fantasilandia became a dramatic focal point where guests were stuck atop rides, waiting for emergency responses due to power constraints.
As night fell, the government declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew, deploying police and soldiers to maintain order. Amid the pandemonium, some Chileans took to social media to celebrate the unexpected view of the milky way, highlighting a silver lining amidst the crisis.
