State of Emergency Declared in Chile Following Widespread Blackout

A blackout in Chile on Tuesday prompted President Gabriel Boric to declare a state of emergency, impacting 8 million homes and 14 of 16 regions, including Santiago. While 90% of power was restored by Wednesday, Interior Minister Carolina Tohá reported 220,000 customers remained without electricity. Investigations into the causes of the outage are ongoing, as daily life and services were significantly disrupted.

On Tuesday, a significant electricity blackout resulted in a state of emergency being declared by Chile’s President Gabriel Boric, impacting the majority of the nation, including the capital city, Santiago. Approximately 8 million homes were affected during a peak summer period when temperatures reached around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). The National Disaster Prevention and Response Service confirmed that 14 out of 16 regions experienced outages, with the incident commencing in the afternoon.

As of Wednesday, the government reported that 90% of the impacted homes and businesses had their power restored. However, Chilean Interior Minister Carolina Tohá stated that ongoing challenges remained, with 220,000 customers still without electricity. While public transportation services were fully restored, Tohá noted that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the blackout, highlighting the need to discern the initial failure from system responses following the incident.

The National Electrical Coordinator indicated that a disruption to a high-voltage transmission line, delivering power from the Atacama Desert to Santiago, was responsible for the blackout, although the reasoning behind this disruption was not presented. To ensure public safety amid concerns the outage might extend into the evening, a curfew was enacted from 10 p.m. Tuesday until 6 a.m. Wednesday.

President Boric attributed blame for this power failure to the electricity companies, declaring the situation “not tolerable” and committing to investigate those companies that failed to meet expectations. Tohá emphasized the priority placed on citizen safety and the unexpected nature of the outage. Backup generators were activated in crucial facilities, and national security forces assisted in managing traffic and maintaining order.

The blackout drastically disrupted daily life, as transport services were halted and businesses faced paralysis. Santiago’s metro services ceased indefinitely, requiring the evacuation of passengers in darkness. Conversely, Santiago International Airport maintained regular flight operations despite the outage. However, LATAM Airlines cautioned that some flights may face delays. Internet connectivity plummeted to 25% of normal levels, prompting authorities to suspend a scheduled soccer match. Health Minister Ximena Aguilera reassured that the healthcare network remained operational through generator use. The blackout also extended its effects beyond Santiago, reaching various other regions within Chile.

In summary, the recent blackout that affected vast portions of Chile has led to a state of emergency being declared by President Gabriel Boric. While significant progress has been made in restoring power, ongoing issues persist, prompting investigations into the causes of the outage. The government’s focus remains on ensuring public safety and maintaining essential services, as the situation continues to evolve in the aftermath of the power failure.

Original Source: wsvn.com