News

Major Blackout Leaves Chile in the Dark: Here’s What We Know

The 2025 Viña del Mar International Song Festival had to be canceled and later rescheduled

On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Chile faced its worst blackout in over 15 years, leaving nearly 80% of the country without power. The outage, which hit at 3:16 PM, plunged millions into darkness, disrupting transportation, telecommunications, and essential services.

Due to the severity of the situation, President Gabriel Boric declared a state of emergency and enforced a curfew in 14 of Chile’s 16 regions. To help restore order and assist in power recovery efforts, more than 3,000 military personnel were deployed across the affected areas.

Boric expressed serious concern over the crisis and promised a thorough investigation to determine what caused the blackout and who should be held responsible. In the meantime, Chileans remain in limbo, waiting for power to be fully restored.

How the Blackout Disrupted Daily Life: Transportation and Communication Struggles

The blackout had a major impact on daily life across Chile. In Santiago, the metro system shut down, leaving thousands of people scrambling for alternative transportation. Authorities also urged residents to limit mobile data usage to keep telecommunications networks from crashing.

In many areas, families turned to candles and flashlights to get through the night without power. Meanwhile, hospitals, businesses, and essential services had to put emergency plans in place to continue operating during the crisis.

Viña del Mar Festival Thrown Into Uncertainty

One of the biggest events affected was the 2025 Viña del Mar International Song Festival, which was underway when the blackout hit. The Tuesday performances, featuring Pedro Ruminot and Sebastián Yatra, had to be canceled and later rescheduled for Saturday, March 1.

Organizers have assured that all artists will still perform on the rescheduled date, and those who can’t attend will have the option to request a full refund through Puntoticket, with requests available starting March 3.

Chile’s Uncertain Future: What Happens Now?

The blackout has highlighted weaknesses in Chile’s power system and the urgent need for improvements. While crews work nonstop to restore electricity, people are still waiting for answers and clear solutions.

With a state of emergency in place and the country struggling to get back on its feet, the big questions remain: How long will it take for Chile to return to normal, and what really caused this massive outage?