Hundreds of bus and lorry drivers have blocked major highway routes across Chile in a coordinated protest against soaring fuel prices.
The demonstrators have set up roadblocks on several key arteries that link the country's major cities, bringing traffic to a standstill and causing widespread disruption for commuters and freight operators.
Transport workers say the recent surge in fuel costs is eroding their earnings and threatening the viability of their businesses, prompting the nationwide action.
Chile, a long, narrow nation on South America’s Pacific coast, relies heavily on road transport for both passenger travel and the movement of goods, so the highway closures are expected to have ripple effects on the broader economy.
The protest underscores growing concerns among Chilean workers about the impact of rising energy prices on everyday life and the cost of doing business.
<small>Source: BBC News — read the original story there.</small>
