An unexpected power cut plunged over eight million households in Chile into darkness, sending thousands scrambling as the underground metro ground to a halt, resulting in chaotic scenes in the capital.
Chile’s Nationwide Blackout: "Trapped Like Sardines in the Dark"
Chile’s Nationwide Blackout: "Trapped Like Sardines in the Dark"
Massive power failure leaves millions stranded, disrupting lives and transport systems across Chile.
A significant blackout hit Chile on Tuesday afternoon, leaving more than eight million households without electricity due to a failure in an electricity transmission line, prompting widespread disruption. In Santiago, the underground metro system was immediately suspended, stranding passengers in darkened tunnels as chaos ensued.
"We were trapped like sardines in the dark," recounted one commuter as her train sat stalled. Firefighters worked tirelessly to rescue those trapped in lifts, including a woman in her 70s. "I kicked the door and cried for help, thinking I might die in there," she shared after being freed.
Videos circulating on social media captured the eerie scenes of passengers navigating dark stations using cellphone flashlights, illustrating the abrupt impact of the power outage. According to Metro de Santiago, the evacuation operations took about 90 minutes, but disruption continued for hours afterward, leading to long lines at bus stops where passengers anxiously awaited rides. Many chose to walk home in the sweltering summer temperatures of approximately 30 Celsius (86 Fahrenheit).
Sharon Ortiz, a waitress, expressed her frustration, stating, "The public transport system collapsed, and I had to walk two hours to get to work." The power failure also wreaked havoc on businesses, many of which closed due to inoperable card machines and cash registers.
Fantasilandia amusement park became a focal point of the incident, as a dozen people were reportedly stranded on a rollercoaster. Despite having backup generators, safety protocols delayed the reopening of rides. Hospitals relied on emergency power sources to continue operations during the blackout.
As night fell, the government declared a state of emergency, instituting a curfew from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM, and deploying police and military personnel to maintain order. Despite the turmoil, some citizens took to social media to share images of the night sky, noting that the blackout allowed for clearer views of the stars.
