In a chaotic turn of events on Tuesday afternoon, over eight million households across Chile experienced a complete power loss due to the failure of an electricity transmission line, resulting in widespread disruption. The capital city of Santiago saw a total suspension of its underground train system almost immediately after the outage, stranding numerous commuters without guidance in the darkness.
Passengers aboard halted metro trains described the alarming atmosphere, with one reporting, "We were like sardines in the dark." Emergency services were dispatched to rescue passengers trapped in lifts, including a woman in her 70s who had to kick the door to attract attention. "I'm brave, I told myself 'I'm not going to die here'," she shared with local reporters.
Footage circulating on social media depicted metro passengers utilizing their cell phone flashlights to navigate the dimly lit stations. According to the metro authority, the evacuation process concluded roughly 90 minutes after the initial outage, yet the effects persisted for an extended period as confusion reigned among travelers.
With the metro's daily ridership of 2.3 million abruptly halted, Santiago's streets grew increasingly congested as frustrated commuters lined up at bus stops hoping for some relief. Though 150 additional buses were deployed, they proved inadequate as the demand soared. “The power went out at 3:00 pm, so we had no power at all,” recounted a shopkeeper.
The outage created pandemonium on the streets. Numerous traffic lights were rendered inoperative, contributing to a series of accidents, one of which involved a truck collision at a signal-less crossing. Many people resorted to walking under the scorching summer heat, with one young woman proclaiming, “The public transport system has collapsed." Some hitchhiked rides on trucks when possible.
Meanwhile, businesses throughout the city were forced to shut their doors as cash registers, electronic payments, and refrigeration systems faltered due to the outage. In an unexpected turn, several eateries kept their doors open, providing weary pedestrians a spot to rest. Experiences of amusement seekers at Fantasilandia, an amusement park, were notably unnerving as dozens found themselves stranded atop a roller coaster. Although backup generators were available, parks could not immediately resume operations for safety concerns.
As night fell, the government declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew. Soldiers and police were mobilized to maintain order amid the chaos of people grappling with the sudden loss of power. Yet, some Chileans found a silver lining in the dark, posting picturesque images of the Milky Way on social media—a rare sight amid the usual light pollution.
Passengers aboard halted metro trains described the alarming atmosphere, with one reporting, "We were like sardines in the dark." Emergency services were dispatched to rescue passengers trapped in lifts, including a woman in her 70s who had to kick the door to attract attention. "I'm brave, I told myself 'I'm not going to die here'," she shared with local reporters.
Footage circulating on social media depicted metro passengers utilizing their cell phone flashlights to navigate the dimly lit stations. According to the metro authority, the evacuation process concluded roughly 90 minutes after the initial outage, yet the effects persisted for an extended period as confusion reigned among travelers.
With the metro's daily ridership of 2.3 million abruptly halted, Santiago's streets grew increasingly congested as frustrated commuters lined up at bus stops hoping for some relief. Though 150 additional buses were deployed, they proved inadequate as the demand soared. “The power went out at 3:00 pm, so we had no power at all,” recounted a shopkeeper.
The outage created pandemonium on the streets. Numerous traffic lights were rendered inoperative, contributing to a series of accidents, one of which involved a truck collision at a signal-less crossing. Many people resorted to walking under the scorching summer heat, with one young woman proclaiming, “The public transport system has collapsed." Some hitchhiked rides on trucks when possible.
Meanwhile, businesses throughout the city were forced to shut their doors as cash registers, electronic payments, and refrigeration systems faltered due to the outage. In an unexpected turn, several eateries kept their doors open, providing weary pedestrians a spot to rest. Experiences of amusement seekers at Fantasilandia, an amusement park, were notably unnerving as dozens found themselves stranded atop a roller coaster. Although backup generators were available, parks could not immediately resume operations for safety concerns.
As night fell, the government declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew. Soldiers and police were mobilized to maintain order amid the chaos of people grappling with the sudden loss of power. Yet, some Chileans found a silver lining in the dark, posting picturesque images of the Milky Way on social media—a rare sight amid the usual light pollution.
