Transit strike over high fuel prices blocks roads in Chile

Truckers and bus drivers in Chile initiated an indefinite strike on Tuesday, protesting soaring fuel prices. This action resulted in major roads and highways across the country being blocked. The truckers and drivers gathered at various points along Route 5, which spans Chile from north to south, demanding relief from the escalating diesel prices.

The cost of diesel has surged by 74% since March, largely due to the conflict in Iran. This price increase is having a severe impact on many transport companies, according to industry groups.

Despite a meeting between government officials and protest leaders on Tuesday afternoon, no resolution was reached. The far-right government led by Jose Antonio Kast has been facing public discontent over fuel prices for several months. When Kast assumed office in March, he altered a state mechanism that previously mitigated sharp price increases, thereby passing the burden of rising prices onto consumers.

Truck driver Claudio Elguezabal participated in the protest near Santiago on Tuesday morning, explaining that he had no choice but to join the strike. He revealed that his business was currently unprofitable, and he sometimes had to invest his own money to cover clients' costs. Juan Cornejo, president of the Association of Intercity Bus Owners, which represents 14 mid-sized companies, announced that they had reached their limit.

He stated that their operations had been operating at a loss for over a month. Cornejo criticized the government's proposed bill to control diesel and gasoline prices for 90 days, calling it a "joke" and demanding more substantial changes from the government.