Chile Declares Emergency Amid Massive Power Outage

A massive power outage hit Chile on Tuesday, affecting 14 of the country's 16 regions and leaving millions without electricity, including in the capital, Santiago, where the metro service was disrupted. The blackout, caused by a disruption in a high-voltage transmission line, affected key industries like copper mining, paralyzing operations at major sites such as Escondida and those managed by Codelco. The National Electrical Coordinator and Senapred are investigating the cause, with some areas beginning to regain power. The government declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew in affected regions while activating backup power for essential services. Interior Minister Carolina Tohá stated that if power was not restored by sunset, emergency measures would be implemented to prevent further crises. The situation disrupted daily life significantly, affecting traffic, business operations, and communication services across the nation.