The protests started earlier this week with high school students protesting against the second fare increase of the year by jumping subway turnstiles. However, on Friday night, demonstrators escalated their actions by setting fire to numerous subway stations, banks, buses, and the headquarters of the country's largest electricity provider, Enel. Looters also targeted supermarkets, stores, and pharmacies. One student was reportedly killed by the police, and another was injured by rubber bullets during the protests, which disrupted the tranquility of one of Latin America's most prosperous and well-organized capitals. President Piñera declared a state of emergency, imposing restrictions on citizens' freedom of movement and assembly while granting the army authority over internal security. He justified the measure as necessary to restore order following the chaos caused by protesters, whom he referred to as "delinquents." The fare increase, announced on October 6, sparked anger in a time when the cost of living for poor and middle-class families has been increasing while wages remain stagnant. Isabel Mora, an 82-year-old retiree with a monthly pension of $62, expressed frustration at the unfairness of rising costs for transportation, electricity, gas, and other expenses, coupled with low salaries. Piñera had promised to address the increasing transportation fares, which now stand at around $1.20 for rush hour rides. The protests against the fare hike escalated on Friday, with hundreds of people entering subway stations without paying. Special police units responded by using tear gas, beating demonstrators, and forcefully removing people from subway cars for arrest. The subway system halted service on multiple lines, eventually shutting down the entire network by nighttime, leaving hundreds, if not thousands, of people stranded on the streets. Many were unable to catch crowded buses and had to walk for hours to reach home. Government officials labeled the protesters as "organised vandals" and "criminals" and stated they would implement a law allowing higher penalties for crimes. Residents in the capital protested by banging pots and pans throughout the city on Friday night. As individuals stole goods from supermarkets and constructed barricades, it seemed that the police had withdrawn to their stations. The demonstrations took place as Chile gets ready to hold two significant global gatherings: an APEC summit in mid-November and the UN Climate Change Conference in December.