Chile faces a dire situation following a massive power outage affecting millions, prompting government action to restore order.
Curfew Imposed as Chile Grapples with Nationwide Power Crisis
Curfew Imposed as Chile Grapples with Nationwide Power Crisis
Nationwide blackout leads to state of emergency and curfew in Chile.
On February 25, 2025, the Chilean government declared a state of emergency, imposing a curfew after a massive blackout left most of the country without electricity, including the capital, Santiago. The outage began in the afternoon, impacting eight million households from the northern city of Arica to the southern regions of Los Lagos, according to official reports.
In Santiago, the blackout caused traffic signals to fail, trapped individuals in elevators, and halted the subway system. In the wake of the chaos, the government instituted a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in affected regions. Schools in these areas are canceled for Wednesday, impacting around 300,000 children.
President Gabriel Boric addressed the nation during a press conference, acknowledging the day’s difficulties for many citizens. He reported that as of late Tuesday, power had been restored to roughly four million households. However, he emphasized that the recovery process was slow and unstable, warning that the situation remained precarious.
Boric criticized power companies for their failure in managing the crisis and ensuring a faster restoration of service, calling their response "outrageous." The blackout was caused by the failure of a transmission system, officials stated.
In response to the crisis, soldiers and national police were deployed to hot spots across the impacted regions, while helicopters patrolled Santiago’s skies. Emergency services, healthcare facilities, prisons, and airports are relying on backup electricity systems and generators, as per the national disaster agency’s report.
While power restoration efforts are underway, the events have highlighted vulnerabilities in the nation's energy infrastructure and raised concerns about the government's handling of the emergency.
In Santiago, the blackout caused traffic signals to fail, trapped individuals in elevators, and halted the subway system. In the wake of the chaos, the government instituted a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in affected regions. Schools in these areas are canceled for Wednesday, impacting around 300,000 children.
President Gabriel Boric addressed the nation during a press conference, acknowledging the day’s difficulties for many citizens. He reported that as of late Tuesday, power had been restored to roughly four million households. However, he emphasized that the recovery process was slow and unstable, warning that the situation remained precarious.
Boric criticized power companies for their failure in managing the crisis and ensuring a faster restoration of service, calling their response "outrageous." The blackout was caused by the failure of a transmission system, officials stated.
In response to the crisis, soldiers and national police were deployed to hot spots across the impacted regions, while helicopters patrolled Santiago’s skies. Emergency services, healthcare facilities, prisons, and airports are relying on backup electricity systems and generators, as per the national disaster agency’s report.
While power restoration efforts are underway, the events have highlighted vulnerabilities in the nation's energy infrastructure and raised concerns about the government's handling of the emergency.
