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 power blackout has left most of Chile in darkness. Tuesday's blackout sent internet and phone services offline, paralyzed businesses and forced evacuations of tunnels and subways in the South American nation.

Most residents had power restored by midnight but the situation remained unstable. President Gabriel Boric blamed power companies for not acting faster.