Chaos in Santiago as Chileans riot over hikes to public transport fares
- Frustrations over the spiralling cost of living in the capital city has become a political flashpoint, prompting calls for various reforms
- High school and university students began the protests after the government hiked fares on October 6, blaming higher energy costs and a weaker peso
Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera declared a state of emergency in the capital Santiago early on Saturday, as the city of 6 million descended into chaos after protesters began rioting over rising cost-of-living pressures.
Black-hooded protesters, enraged by recent fare hikes on public transport, lit fires at several metro stations, looted shops, burned a public bus and swung metal pipes at railway station turnstiles during Friday’s afternoon commute, according to witnesses, social media and television footage.
The centre-right Pinera spoke to the nation in the early hours of Saturday, declaring an emergency lockdown as sirens filled the night air downtown, and police and firefighters rushed to contain the damage.
“I have declared a state of emergency and, to that end, I have appointed Major General Javier Iturriaga del Campo as head of national defence, in accordance with the provisions of our state of emergency legislation,” he said.
Pinera said he would invoke a special state security law to prosecute the “criminals” responsible for the citywide damage, while at the same time saying he sympathised with those impacted by the rate hikes.