President Gabriel Boric declared a state of emergency in Chile after a blackout affected millions, including power outages in Santiago. While 90% of services have been restored, investigations are ongoing, with 220,000 customers still lacking electricity. Daily life was disrupted, leading to transport halts and internet issues across the nation, while emergency measures were implemented to maintain public safety.
On Tuesday, President Gabriel Boric of Chile declared a state of emergency following a significant blackout that affected most of the nation, including the capital city of Santiago. This outage, occurring during the summer when temperatures reach around 30°C (86°F), impacted approximately 8 million households. According to the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service, 14 out of 16 regions in Chile experienced this blackout that began in the afternoon.
By Wednesday, the government reported that power had been restored to 90% of the homes and businesses that lost electricity. However, Interior Minister Carolina Tohá indicated that 220,000 customers remained without power, and ongoing issues were still present. Public transport services were fully restored, and the state of emergency would soon be lifted.
Minister Tohá also announced that investigations were underway to identify the cause of the outage. A high-voltage transmission line disrupting supply from the Atacama Desert to central Chile was identified as a key factor. President Boric criticized electricity companies for the incident, stating, “it is not tolerable” for millions to be affected, and vowed to hold responsible parties accountable.
In response to the emergency, essential services like hospitals, and prisons switched to backup generators, ensuring operations continued amidst the disruption. The national gendarmerie was deployed to maintain security, and authorities imposed a curfew from 10 p.m. Tuesday until 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Daily life across the nation was severely disrupted, with transport systems halted and businesses paralyzed. Santiago’s metro ceased operations, leading to passengers being evacuated in darkness. Connectivity issues plagued the internet, with national usage reported at only 25% of typical levels. Additionally, a scheduled soccer match during the Copa Chile tournament was postponed due to the blackout.
In summary, the state of emergency declared by Chilean President Gabriel Boric highlights the significant impact of a nationwide blackout that affected millions. While most services have resumed, investigations are ongoing to determine the cause, and the government is prioritizing public safety. President Boric’s stern stance against electricity companies emphasizes the need for accountability, ensuring that such an incident does not reoccur.
Original Source: wsvn.com
