Chile faces nationwide blackout, declares state of emergency amid widespread chaos

File Source: CNN

A nationwide blackout plunged most of Chile into darkness on Tuesday, prompting President Gabriel Boric to declare a state of emergency as millions faced sweltering summer temperatures without power.

The outage, which affected 14 of the country’s 16 regions—including the capital, Santiago—left around 8 million homes in the dark, disrupting daily life and causing widespread communication and transport failures.

The National Disaster Prevention and Response Service reported that the blackout began Tuesday afternoon, paralyzing Santiago’s metro system, halting businesses, and cutting off internet and mobile services across much of the nation. Commuters were stranded as parts of the transport network were suspended, and emergency teams scrambled to restore power. The National Electrical Coordinator, which manages the country’s power grid, said a disruption in a high-voltage transmission line connecting the Atacama Desert to central Chile was to blame but did not specify the cause.

Boric condemned the electricity companies for the debacle, stating, “It is not tolerable that millions of people have been affected. We are not going to let this pass, and we are going to act firmly against companies that have not risen to the occasion. For this reason, all the necessary investigations will be carried out.” To ensure public safety, a nationwide curfew was imposed from 10 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday, with security forces deployed to maintain order.

As of Tuesday evening, only a quarter of Chile’s electrical demand had been restored, with full power expected to return “within the early hours of the morning,” according to the National Electrical Coordinator. Interior Minister Carolina Tohá urged the public to remain calm, assuring that authorities were working urgently to restore operations. “Our first concern, and the reason for this announcement, is to ensure people’s safety,” she said. “Obviously, this was something no one planned for.”

The blackout forced hospitals, prisons, and government buildings to rely on backup generators, while Santiago International Airport assured travelers that flights continued to operate normally under emergency power systems. However, airline carrier LATAM warned of potential disruptions. The outage also forced the suspension of a national Copa Chile soccer match and knocked out internet connectivity across the country, with watchdog group NetBlocks reporting that Chile’s connectivity had dropped to just 25% of normal levels.

Videos circulating on social media showed metro passengers being guided through darkened stations, while businesses across the affected regions—including Arica, Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Coquimbo, Valparaíso, and Biobío—ground to a halt. Transport Minister Juan Carlos Muñoz confirmed that Santiago’s metro service would remain suspended until further notice.

Health Minister Ximena Aguilera reassured the public that the country’s healthcare network remained operational, thanks to generator power that could last for hours. Meanwhile, authorities continued investigating the exact cause of the blackout as Chileans braced for a long night of uncertainty.