Power Outage in Chile: Chaos and Desperation Amidst Darkness

A sudden power outage in Chile on Tuesday caused widespread disruption, plunging over eight million households into darkness and immobilizing the transportation system.

On Tuesday afternoon, a major power outage hit Chile, leaving over eight million households without electricity due to the failure of an electricity transmission line. The blackout triggered suspension of the entire underground train system in the capital, Santiago, forcing thousands of passengers into chaos. "We were like sardines in the dark," one commuter described the experience of their stalled train. Emergency services worked to evacuate those trapped in lifts and darkened metro stations, while videos online depicted how passengers used phone flashlights to navigate the perilous situation.

In a striking incident, a woman in her 70s, trapped between floors in a lift, expressed immense relief when firefighters managed to rescue her. "I'm brave, I told myself 'I'm not going to die here,'" she recounted. The evacuation of the underground system took around 90 minutes, but disruptions continued for hours thereafter. Although 150 additional buses were dispatched, they proved inadequate to accommodate the massive influx of stranded passengers. Long lines formed at bus stops, many people growing frustrated as overcrowded buses failed to stop.

Businesses across Santiago felt the impact as they struggled with non-functioning cash and card machines, causing some to close. Public safety was also compromised, with traffic disruptions leading to accidents at intersections where traffic lights were out. Affected individuals, like waitress Sharon Ortiz, detailed their struggles to reach work, often taking to the streets amidst the summer heat.

Amusement parks like Fantasilandia faced their own challenges, leaving people stuck on rides temporarily while emergency protocols were initiated. Hospitals strained under the outages but managed to maintain operations with emergency generators. As night took hold, the government declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew to maintain order, deploying soldiers and police to assist. Amidst the turmoil, some citizens found solace in the clear night skies, sharing photos of the Milky Way made visible by the absence of city lights.