I am now near Puerto Montt. At least some stations in this area seem to be limiting petrol purchases, and there are lines at the petrol stations. Since I've got a motorcycle, I don't use much petrol and haven't actually had any problems myself, but I'm noticing that people are tense and there's some obvious hoarding. For example, I see people in the supermercados wheeling baskets full stacked high with bottled water towards to checkout.
There are also a lot of rumours around, including that there are armed highway bandits stopping cars between here and Santiago. I doubt that this is particularly true, but it's an indication that people are nervous and ready to believe almost anything. That's how panics start, and panic--in my view, at least--can be dangerous.
Personally, I'm heading across the border to Argentina tomorrow--not because I'm scared or uncomfortable, but because I believe it's not a good idea to compete with local people for limited resources. If gas, water, food staples, cash from ATM's or other supplies are in limited supply, I might as well leave them for the people who don't have the option of slipping across the border for a while.
Hope that perspective is helpful.
Mark
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