Chile recently experienced a 10-hour blackout leading to one reported death and an armed robbery. The Interior Minister indicated three deaths of electro-dependent individuals but stated that investigations are ongoing to establish any potential connection to the blackout. The Health Ministry clarified that two victims were not dependent on electrical support, confirming that not all deaths were linked to the outage.
As Chile worked to restore its electricity supply on Wednesday, authorities reported one death and an armed robbery that occurred following a significant 10-hour blackout on Tuesday, which instigated a nationwide curfew. Interior Minister Carolina Tohá conveyed that three individuals dependent on electrical devices had died, although it was unclear if their deaths were directly associated with the power outage. She stated, “Each of these cases will be examined in detail to see whether or not there was a link with the cut or with the backup provided by the systems that are foreseen for this type of situation.” Health Minister Ximena Aguilera added that although information regarding fatalities during the blackout was received, it was crucial to differentiate whether these were directly a consequence of the outage itself.
The Health Ministry emphasized that two of the deceased individuals were not reliant on electricity for life support and that their deaths were linked to pre-existing medical conditions. The third fatality was noted to “maintain the autonomy of the electrical support permanently until death.” They also asserted that preliminary data dismisses any causal connection between the blackout and the deaths reported. In light of these events, the Public Prosecutor’s Office for the Centro Norte region initiated an investigation regarding possible criminal accountability related to the death of a person in Recoleta, located near Santiago, which was documented shortly after the blackout commenced, thus requiring thorough examination. Electro-dependent individuals rely on electronic medical equipment to sustain life, making such outages especially critical and concerning.
Authorities will continue to collect information regarding these incidents to ascertain any further implications linked to the power outage, with intentions towards addressing the concerns raised in such emergencies.
In summary, Chile’s recent blackout resulted in one reported death and an armed robbery, prompting government investigations into the incidents. While officials acknowledge the deaths of electro-dependent individuals, health officials clarified that not all fatalities were linked to the power outage. Overall, proactive measures are essential in addressing the implications of outages on vulnerable populations.
Original Source: en.mercopress.com
