RIOTING over a subway fare hike in Chile that has since been scrapped has left at least eight people dead. President Sebastian Pinera declared a state of emergency in the capital city of Santiago and at least five other cities. Several days of rioting, arson and vandalism have taken place in protest to the price […]
RIOTING over a subway fare hike in Chile that has since been scrapped has left at least eight people dead.
President Sebastian Pinera declared a state of emergency in the capital city of Santiago and at least five other cities.
Several days of rioting, arson and vandalism have taken place in protest to the price change.
Governor Karla Rubilar confirmed that three people had died in a burned-down supermarket in the capital on Saturday.
A further five bodies were found in the basement of a torched warehouse on Sunday, according to The Associated Press.
Interior Minister Andres Chadwick said that 62 police officers and 11 civilians were injured in the most recent riots.
He stated that there had been an “escalation of violence and vandalism”.
Nearly 1,500 people had been arrested and more than 70 “serious events” were reported, as of late Sunday.
Andres added: “We are facing a real escalation that is undoubtedly organised to cause serious damage to our country and the lives of each of its citizens”.
Pinera scrapped the fare increase on Saturday in a bid to stop to the chaos, two weeks after it launched.
He also revealed plans to “reduce excessive inequalities, inequities abuses, that persist in our society,” on Sunday.
Authorities estimated that millions of dollars worth of damage had been caused to businesses, the subway and buildings.
Several locations had been burned-down and many others vandalised.
Subway system chief Louis De Grange announced that 85 stations were severely damage.
That figure equated to around three-quarters of the entire system, which transported around 2.4million riders on a weekday.
The political world must take responsibility for how we have come to this situation.
Jaime Quintana, President of the Senate
Jaime Quintana, President of the Senate, said that “the political world must take responsibility”.
Around 10,500 soldiers and police officers patrolled the streets of Santiago but protests continued.
Security forces used tear gas and jets of water to try to disperse the crowds.
On Saturday a state of emergency was applied in Santiago, Antofagasta, Valparaiso, Valdivia, Chillan, Talca, Temuco and Punta Arenas.
In Santiago alone 614 people were arrested by mid-afternoon Sunday and 179 were taken into custody the day before.
The general in charge of security in the city announced that a curfew would stretch from 7pm Sunday until 6am Monday local time.
