Chile’s president has declared a state of emergency after an electricity blackout plunged most of the country into darkness on Tuesday, including the capital Santiago.

A sweeping blackout plunged most of Chile into darkness Tuesday, stranding commuters, knocking the internet offline and paralyzing businesses and daily life as officials scrambled to restore power. The government declared a state of emergency alongside a mandatory nighttime curfew that will last until 6 a.m. Wednesday.

President Gabriel Boric said he was activating "a state of emergency due to a catastrophe" to guarantee national security. He announced a curfew from 10 pm Tuesday until 6 am Wednesday.