Chile: Power outages affect thousands in four regions July 14

Event

Widespread power outages have been reported in parts of Santiago Metropolitan Region as well as Atacama, Valparaiso, Coquimbo regions early July 14. According to the National Emergency Office (Oficina Nacional de Emergencia, ONEMI), at least 53,000 people were still being affected by electricity outages in these regions as of 06:30 July 14. The outages are mostly being reported in the municipalities of Puente Alto in Santiago Metropolitan Region as well as Puchuncavi and Zapallar in Valparaiso Region. It remains unclear how long it will take for works to fully restore electricity. The power outages were caused by strong winds, which damaged several electricity supply towers.

Commercial and communications disruptions are likely in the impact area in the coming days; outages may impact cellular and mobile services. Some essential services, such as banking and fuel stations, may also be affected. Blackouts could adversely affect security protocols, including alarm systems and electronic fences; opportunistic criminal activity could increase during electricity outages. Road travel delays are possible in areas affected by power outages due to possible nonfunctional or malfunctioning traffic lights.

Advice

Charge mobile and communication devices when possible and ensure backup batteries are available. Plan for road travel delays due to possible malfunctioning or nonfunctional traffic lights in affected areas. Exercise caution when driving in recently impacted areas. Confirm business appointments. Verify that security systems are working. Park vehicles in secure areas, and complete ground movements before nightfall. Ensure that generators are functional and refuel devices where necessary.