Massive Power Outage Plunges Chile Into Darkness, Disrupts Copper Mines

A nationwide power outage in Chile on Tuesday left Santiago and major regions in darkness, impacting key copper mines and disrupting daily life. The blackout, one of the country’s largest in years, resulted from a transmission line failure in the north, according to Interior Minister Carolina Toha, who ruled out a cyberattack.

The government declared a state of emergency and imposed a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, deploying armed forces to maintain order. In Santiago, streetlights went dark, emergency sirens blared, and metro services shut down, leaving passengers stranded. Residents, caught off guard, struggled to access cash and essential services.

The power outage extended from Arica in the north to Los Lagos in the south, affecting operations at Escondida, the world’s largest copper mine, and state-owned Codelco’s mines, including Chuquicamata, Andina, Salvador, and El Teniente. While Antofagasta and Anglo American mines operated on backup generators, the extent of production losses remains unclear.

By Tuesday night, some areas, including parts of Santiago, Valparaiso, and Vina del Mar, had regained power. Ernesto Huber, head of Chile’s National Electricity Coordinator (CEN), stated that hydroelectric plants were being activated to restore service, though a full timeline was uncertain.

Despite the crisis, Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport remained operational, though LATAM Airlines warned of potential flight disruptions. Toha assured the public that power restoration efforts were underway and urged patience, adding that alternative measures would be considered if delays persisted.

Chile, the world’s top copper producer, faces economic concerns following the blackout. Authorities continue investigating the root cause, with global markets closely monitoring the situation.