Chile Enforces Curfew Amid Nationwide Power Outage

In a dramatic response to a widespread electrical failure that plunged much of Chile into darkness, President Gabriel Boric's administration has instituted a curfew and state of emergency on Tuesday. The blackout, impacting eight million households nationwide from Arica in the north to Los Lagos in the south, left many stranded and disrupted daily life in major cities, particularly the capital, Santiago, where traffic lights failed and the subway system shut down. As frustrations grew over the power companies' handling of the crisis, President Boric emphasized the need for accountability while announcing that approximately half of the affected homes had regained electricity by the end of the day.

The blackout commenced in the afternoon, enveloping Chile in darkness and sparking immediate concern among residents. In response, the government swiftly announced a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the most affected areas. Schools were closed on Wednesday, affecting around 300,000 students, as authorities sought to maintain order amidst chaos.

During a press briefing late Tuesday, President Boric expressed his displeasure with the electrical companies responsible for the transmission system failure that triggered the outage. He deemed their response to the crisis unacceptable, emphasizing that citizens deserved better.

As the night progressed, emergency services, including hospitals and airports, relied on backup generators, while soldiers and national police were deployed to maintain security in troubled regions. Helicopters patrolled Santiago, reflecting the gravity of the situation. Despite electricity restoration efforts reaching around four million households, the president cautioned that the recovery process remained unstable, urging citizens to brace for potential difficulties ahead.

The national disaster agency continues to monitor the situation closely, working to restore full power and ensure the safety of all affected communities.