A massive power outage swept across Chile on February 25, 2025, affecting nearly all regions of the country and plunging around 19 million people, or 99% of the country's municipalities, without electricity. The blackout marked the worst electrical failure Chile had experienced in 15 years, starting at approximately 15:16 local time.
Authorities quickly reported significant disruptions from the north to the south, spanning the areas from Arica to Los Lagos. This widespread outage has sparked chaos across urban centers, particularly impacting life in the capital, Santiago. With over seven million residents, the city's infrastructure struggled to cope, leading to the suspension of the metro service, which serves about 2.3 million daily commuters. "Our teams are positioned at all stations to help evacuate safely," said the Santiago Metro company, highlighting the urgent response needed to assist stranded passengers.
Chile's Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá, immediately announced the implementation of a nighttime curfew from 10 PM to 6 AM, following the declaration of a state of emergency. "We will have a curfew from 10 PM to 6 AM," she confirmed, emphasizing the government's determination to maintain public safety amid the uncertainty of the blackout's duration. This measure affects the majority of the population who rely heavily on electric services for their daily lives.
Despite concerns, the government ruled out sabotage or intentional attacks on the power infrastructure. Tohá reassured the public by stating, "There is no reason to believe this was caused by any attack. It appears to be a malfunction within the system itself." This statement came as the country braced for potential challenges if the outage extended for extended periods.
According to the Electrical Coordinator, the outage stemmed from the disconnection of the 500 kV transmission system, impacting the entire power grid. The Coordinator confirmed, "At 15:16, there was a power drop from Arica to the Los Lagos region," pinpointing the time and nature of the failure. The response from service providers has been swift, with emergency generators activated for hospitals and prisons to maintain their operations.
The immediate effects of the blackout have been felt throughout businesses across Chile. Many shops closed, with reports from Valparaíso indicating significant congestion on roads due to traffic disruptions. "There are police managing traffic because many streets, usually quiet, are jammed," said Anadriel Hernández, a local student describing the chaos as businesses scrambled to adapt.
The airline Latam, which operates many routes to and from Santiago, also faced significant operational challenges due to the outage. Affected travelers were advised to check their flight statuses and provided with options for flexible travel arrangements. "Passengers can change their travel dates or request refunds for cancelled flights without fees for up to one year," Latam stated, aiming to alleviate the stress caused by the situation.
The health services were not spared from the fallout. Hospitals reported functioning with emergency generators, but the strain on resources intrigued concern among families relying on timely care. "The systems are working, but it is difficult to manage everything when the electric supply is cut off," noted Sofia, a nurse at Santiago General Hospital.
Despite the many faces of adversity during this power failure, citizens exhibited resilience as they navigated the chaos. From crowded buses to darkened streets, the scenes highlighted how dependent society is on reliable electricity. The sense of urgency was palpable, as many residents found themselves stranded, unable to return home from work due to transport disruptions.
Electricity companies worked through the night to restore power, with initial reports indicating efforts to resolve the situation by 22:00. Local officials remained cautious, urging residents to prepare for more complications as repair teams worked diligently to address the root of the problem. "We expect the system to normalize shortly, but we advise everyone to stay updated on the situation as it evolves," concluded Tohá.
While the state of emergency remains in effect, the return of electricity will signal much more than just light—it will reflect the strength of the Chilean spirit to endure and recover from disadvantages, proving once again its resilience amid challenges.