A state of catastrophe and a curfew were declared by Chilean President Gabriel Boric on February 25 following a a near-nationwide blackout that affected millions of people.
“This situation should have been regularized much earlier. At this time, of the eight million homes that were without electricity, 4.15 million have gradually recovered their power, although it is still unstable,” Boric said.
“What happened today outrages us. It is unacceptable that the daily lives of thousands of Chileans are affected by the responsibility of one or more companies. It is the duty of the Chilean state to enforce these responsibilities,” he continued.
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He then declared a “state of exception” due to catastrophe, from the Arica y Parinacota region to Los Lagos, and a curfew was implemented in these regions from 10 pm on Tuesday, February 25, until 6 am on Wednesday.
According to the National Electrical Coordinator, the blackout was caused by the “disconnection of the 500 kV transmission system” in the Norte Chico region. Credit: Gabriel Boric Font via Storyful
Video Transcript
Good night to all who are listening to us throughout Chile, particularly from the Aca region to the lakes, who are listening to us at this time.
Because today it has been a complex day for millions of compatriots, since due to an elctric failure of the IZA Inter Chile company in the line that goes between whale and coqun, a cutting of mass energy was caused along the country.
I repeat between the regions of Arica and the region of the lakes, this situation should have been regularized much more early.
At this time, of the eight million households that were without an electrical supply, four million fifty thousand have been gradually recovering the light in an unstable way, of course, we will keep monitoring so that companies regularize the service in short Each of Chile’s households, because we know that this situation remains unstable and as a government we have the duty to be well.
The reposition that has partially giving is good news, but we must be very clear in which what happened today outrages us because it is not tolerable that due to the responsibility of one or several companies the daily life of millions of Chileans and Chileans is affected Therefore it is the duty of the State of Chile to enforce those responsibilities.
But now, as Minister Pardo said in a press point, previously our entire energy is placed that companies comply with the recovery of the system and with which the light is given throughout the national territory.
Now, on the part of the government we have the duty to guarantee people’s safety.
Therefore, as previously reported our Minister of Interior and Public Security, Carolina Toa Tom, the decision to decree state of exception by catstrophe between the region of Arica and percends until the region of the lakes.
In addition, a curfew in the same regions from twenty -two hours today and until six of the morning of El Mircoles.
While we know that in some communes, in some sectors the light has been returning gradually, it is essential that we all act responsibly because the situation is unstable and therefore, we strongly ask them to follow the indications of the authorities until That companies completely solve this situation and we, as a government, will be on top of it at all times.
I want to realize that Immediately originated this emergency instructed the Minister of Interior and Public Security, Carolina Tom.
A national cori will convene to take the measures that are already in execution, which are already in execution.
One is deploying military, police and personnel of the PDI to guarantee the safety of people.
Also convert personally with the commanders in chief of the Armed Forces, with the general director of Carabineros, with the director of the PDI we were monitoring at the Carabineros Central, also to be able to ensure the deployment of all the RP of all the patrols of all The buses, also with the public transport system, to act with the greatest speed to this emergency.
At this minute, the electrical support system of health services is activated and in permanent monitoring to be able to maintain the continuity of the service in hospitals and care centers.
The same with dependent electro patients, who, although it has battery that grant a degree of autonomous, will be transferred to enclosures with energy supplies by the corresponding companies.
If necessary, I mean, I also convert it with General Moras, that all Carabineros plants also have energy systems that give them their own autonomous.
Therefore, the entire security system in Chile and the same in the crceles, is absolutely protected.
The semi forces of the cities are progressively enabled, but I want to reiterate the call that other authorities have made not to make trips unless it is strictly necessary, because the situation situation, particularly at night, is difficult, as well as as well as as well as to move with care and responsibility with the corresponding safe -conduct, if it is totally necessary to circulate in curfew hours.
Ike’s touch I want to be clear about this we decided to decree to guarantee the security of our population.
It is a measure that we know, it can generate complications, but personally it takes the decision to do so because it seemed to me that in this case we cannot give any margin so that those who intend to act outside the law take advantage of an anmalan situation of these characteristics and commit Crimes, therefore I also want to ask for estimated citizen citizen citizen, their collaboration so that this day is respected of this exceptional remaining touch.
The schools that had started the school year about three hundred thousand students, will see their classes suspended in the day of Maana, Mircoles, independent of the regularization of the elctric supply to be able to give families peace of mind.
Likewise, the contingency plan for drinking water services and rural drinking water systems has been launched.
APR in cases of existing faults throughout the PAS, delegates and Serem are deployed in the various territories to guarantee that.
In addition, in order to maintain connectivity and as we have done in other emergencies, since the telecommunications subsection, the activation of national emergency automatic roaming has been requested in all affected regions.
All members of El COD National have been monitoring the support systems, but I want citizen citizen citizens to know, that we will not let go and we will act firmly in front of the companies that have not lived up to the circumstances of the circumstances .
This is why all the necessary investigations will be carried out.
The president of the National Electric Coordinator has already spoken a few minutes ago, an autonomous institution that is precisely responsible for ensuring the coordination of the entire national electrical system and we will ensure that those responsible for this situation have to respond with all the measures of their own measures of our institutionality.
AC It is important that institutions work in times of crisis.
He is tempting or fcil making grandiloquent ads, but that gives us a rode onwards.
The important thing is that institutions work well and overcome the emergency, and that is what we are working on as a government.
As I said at the beginning, this is outrageous because it is not possible for the daily life of millions of Chileans and Chileans to be altered in this way by companies that do not do their job well.
We will continue from the Government and the State.
Also the municipalities that are fulfilling a very important role to mayors, mayors, municipal officials who are deployed in the field of firefighters, police officers, health personnel, all the people who are working at the moment I want to thank them and over Everything, citizens ask them to all collaborate in order to get ahead of this emergency.
We will replace the service as soon as possible.
You have already seen that the light has become in different communes, but this is still unstable and we will continue to execute all the measures that are within our reach to guarantee the safety of our compatriots.
Thank you very much.
And before twelve o’clock at night, the secretariat of the National Covid will give a new update of the state of the situation and morning in the first hour there will be a national cod again where it will be informed and I hope that at that time at that time The service is totally regularized.
Thank you very much to all and all.
