Kayaker Survives Brief Encounter with Humpback Whale in Chile

A massive power outage has left approximately 98% of households in Chile without electricity since Tuesday, prompting the government to declare a nationwide curfew from 10 PM to 6 AM. The curfew affects regions from Arica y Parinacota in the north to Los Lagos in the south, covering over 3,000 kilometers, according to the Interior Ministry. Interior Minister Carolina Tohá emphasized the government's primary concern for public safety, stating, “We want to ensure that no one takes advantage of the blackout to commit crimes.” To bolster security, 3,000 troops are being deployed in affected areas. The blackout was triggered by an unexpected failure of a high-voltage line in the Chico Norte region, as reported by the electrical regulatory authority. Humberto Verdejo, an engineer from the University of Santiago, described the incident as “an atypical system failure,” predicting that restoration of power could take an extended period due to the complexity of the issue. Major events, including Latin America's biggest music festival in Viña del Mar, have been disrupted, with plans for rescheduling performances.

Adrián Simancas, a 24-year-old kayaker, had a near-death experience on February 8 when he was briefly engulfed by a humpback whale in the Strait of Magellan, off the coast of Chilean Patagonia. Simancas described the moment to The Guardian, stating he "closed [his] eyes to brace for impact" but felt as if he were "in a whirlpool" before his life jacket pulled him back to the surface unharmed. The encounter, captured on a nearby camera, quickly went viral, prompting discussions on whale behavior. Marine biologist María José Pérez Álvarez from Universidad de Chile clarified that humpback whales feed on small prey and could not "devour" a human, as they lack teeth and have a small throat. She cautioned, however, that such interactions should be avoided due to potential risks from the whale's size. Kayaking expert Guillermo Meza warned that Simancas and his father were too close to the whale, emphasizing safety and legal regulations requiring a distance of at least 100 meters from marine mammals. Simancas now plans to take greater precautions during future expeditions.

In a surreal incident along the Strait of Magellan, Venezuelan kayaker Adrián Simancas, 23, was accidentally engulfed by a humpback whale while paddling with his father, Dell. As described to BBC Mundo, Simancas first noticed a "slimy texture" as he realized he was inside the whale's mouth. Miraculously, he was expelled moments later without injury. The encounter occurred near Eagle Bay, close to Punta Arenas, when Simancas felt a force pulling him, submerged briefly before surfacing. His father captured this extraordinary moment on camera. According to Brazilian conservationist Roched Jacobson Seba, humpback whales cannot swallow large objects, suggesting that Simancas was accidentally caught while the whale was feeding. The experience left Simancas contemplating his near-death ordeal, which he described as a "second chance." Seba emphasized the need for caution, advising that quieter vessels, such as kayaks and paddleboards, be avoided in areas frequented by whales to prevent such accidents. This remarkable incident highlights the close encounter humans can have with marine life, even in treacherous waters.