Chile decrees state of exception because of severe blackout

According to the InfobaeChilean Energy Minister Diego Pardoow has confirmed that efforts have been made to reconnect the national electrical system, but all unsuccessfully. According to him, failures in various centrals and in the SCADA, a system responsible for interconnecting the electrical transmission, prevented the resumption of supply.

“We are making a fourth attempt to replace the general supply between the regions of Arica (northern Chile) and Los Lagos (south),” said Pardow during a press conference alongside interior minister Carolina Tohá.

“If the electricity cut is maintained between the regions of Arica and Los Lagos. The President of the Republic decided to declare the state of exception by catastrophe. Minister Tohá.

The government ordered the sending of three thousand military personnel to patrol the streets and ensure safety during the collection period. The Under Secretary of Defense, Ricardo Montero, explained that the staff will be distributed throughout the territory that was affected by the blackout.

The authorities have not yet clarified the exact cause of the blackout. The National Electric Cordinator, an organ responsible for supervising and ensuring the safety of the Chilean electrical system, said that no hypothesis can be ruled out so far, and that an in -progress investigation protocol will help determine the reason behind the event. The new position contrasts with Tohá’s previous statement, which had ruled out the possibility of possible attacks on services.

The blackout is generating chaos in several cities. There were problems in traffic, hospitals and airports are currently working through generators and telecommunications systems were strongly affected.