A massive power outage has plunged nearly 19 million people into darkness across Chile, disrupting daily life, halting transportation, and affecting vital infrastructure, including the world’s largest copper mine and major transportation networks.

The blackout, which began earlier today, has impacted regions from Arica and Parinacota in the north to Los Lagos in the south, affecting approximately 80% of the country.

Cause of the Outage

The National Electrical Coordinator, responsible for Chile’s power grid, confirmed that the outage was caused by a disconnection in the transmission system in the Norte Chico region. This failure cascaded through the grid, leading to a widespread collapse of electrical service.

Major Disruptions

The blackout has triggered widespread disruptions across the country:

• Public Transport:
  In Santiago, the capital city, the metro system was completely shut down, stranding thousands of commuters. Passengers were evacuated from stalled trains, and many were seen walking up non-functional escalators in darkened stations.
• Air Travel:
  LATAM Airlines reported multiple flight delays and cancellations, urging passengers to check their flight status before heading to airports. Operations were severely hampered by the lack of power at several airports.
• Mining Industry:
  The Escondida copper mine, the largest in the world, was left without power, though Antofagasta, another major copper mining group, reported switching to backup generators to maintain limited operations.
• City Services:
  Streetlights across Santiago went dark, causing chaotic scenes as traffic lights failed and emergency sirens echoed through the streets. Long queues formed at bus stops as public buses remained the only functioning mode of transport. ATMs and card payment systems were also down, leading to frustrations in shops and restaurants.

Government Response

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Interior Minister Carolina Tohá announced an emergency meeting with the Disaster Risk Management Committees to coordinate efforts in restoring power.

“Given the power outage that is occurring between the regions of Arica and Parinacota and Los Lagos, I have called for an immediate meeting of the National #Cogrid [Disaster Risk Management Committees], where we will adopt measures to address the emergency and work on restoring the service,” she said.

Tohá added that authorities are working to restore power and expressed hope that service would begin resuming in the “coming hours.”

“We hope that what we’ve been told will happen, that in the next few hours we’ll have electrical service back. And if that’s not the case, we’ll have to take different measures,” she said.

Scenes of Disruption and Resilience

Witnesses reported eerie scenes in Santiago as the city ground to a halt. Jose Luis Orlandini, who was dining in downtown Santiago when the power cut hit, described the chaos: “There’s nothing. No cash. No money. Nothing.”

At Fantasilandia, an amusement park in Santiago, several passengers were left stranded mid-ride on a roller coaster when the blackout hit. Park officials later confirmed that backup generators were deployed to safely evacuate the stranded visitors.

Impact on Residents

Many residents found themselves stranded or unable to return home. Maria Angelica Roman, 45, told AFP: “They let us leave work because of the power cut, but now I don’t know how we will get home because all the buses are full.”

The outage has also led to concerns over public safety, as streetlights remain out and emergency services are stretched thin dealing with the fallout.

Moving Forward

Officials continue to assess the full impact of the blackout, with a focus on restoring power to critical infrastructure first, including hospitals and public transport systems. Mining companies and large-scale industries are expected to face significant disruptions even after power is restored.

As Chile grapples with the widespread effects of the blackout, authorities are urging residents to remain calm and patient while recovery efforts continue. Emergency services remain on high alert, and updates are expected as the situation develops.

This story is ongoing and will be updated as more information becomes available.