Chile Power Outage: ‘We Were Trapped Like Sardines in the Dark’
Massive Blackout Leaves Over Eight Million Households Without Power
A widespread power outage left more than eight million households across Chile without electricity on Tuesday afternoon, after a major transmission line failure disrupted supply across much of the country.
In Santiago, the capital, the entire underground metro system ground to a halt almost immediately, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. Stations were plunged into darkness as commuters tried to evacuate.
"We were like sardines in the dark," one passenger described after their train suddenly stalled inside a tunnel. Many others were trapped in elevators across the city, requiring emergency rescues.
One elderly woman, in her 70s, found herself stuck in an elevator between two floors in a building in Santiago. Speaking to local media, she recalled how she “kicked the door” and screamed until the concierge heard her.
"I'm brave. I told myself, 'I'm not going to die here,’” she said.
Videos circulating on social media showed metro passengers relying on their phone flashlights to navigate through pitch-black stations. According to Metro de Santiago, the full evacuation took 90 minutes, but transport disruptions persisted for hours.
Authorities deployed 150 extra buses to replace metro services, but the response fell far short of demand. Long queues formed at bus stops, with frustrated passengers watching packed buses pass without stopping. Many were forced to walk home, as the city struggled with paralyzed offices and heavy congestion.
"The power went out at 3:00 PM, and we were left with nothing," a shopkeeper in Santiago explained. "By 4 or 5 PM, people just started closing their businesses."
The situation worsened as traffic lights failed, leading to gridlock and accidents. At least two crashes were reported, including a truck colliding with a car at a darkened intersection.
With roads jammed and public transport overwhelmed, thousands of people had no choice but to walk home in sweltering summer temperatures of 30°C (86°F).
Sharon Ortiz, a 28-year-old waitress, described the chaos. "Public transport completely collapsed. I was two hours late for work, got stuck at the Costanera shopping center, and had to walk the rest of the way," she told AFP news agency.
Some commuters resorted to hitching rides on the backs of trucks.
Restaurants and cafes were among the businesses hit hardest. While some stayed open to offer resting spots for stranded pedestrians, many were forced to close due to non-functional cash registers, card machines, and refrigeration.
One of the most dramatic scenes unfolded at Santiago’s Fantasilandia amusement park, where at least a dozen people were trapped atop a rollercoaster. Although the park had backup generators, safety protocols prevented rides from resuming immediately.
Hospitals switched to emergency power to keep critical systems running.
As darkness fell, the government declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM, deploying soldiers and police to maintain order.
Despite the chaos, some Chileans found an unexpected silver lining. Social media posts highlighted the rare visibility of the Milky Way, as the blackout dramatically reduced light pollution across the country.
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