Massive power outage hits Chile's Atacama region; Vallenar worst affected

A large-scale power outage struck Chile's Atacama region on the morning of October 8, with Vallenar among the hardest-hit municipalities. The Superintendencia de Electricidad y Combustibles (SEC) last reviewed the situation at 07:00 local time; the cause and full scope remain unclear. The disruption affects critical services and economic activity in a mining-heavy region, though no market impact is evident yet.