Three people have died in a supermarket fire in Santiago in Chile amid riots and violent clashes in the city.
Chile's president has declared a state of emergency in the country's capital after protests over a 3-cent rise in underground fares turned violent.
According to Karla Rubilar, the mayor of the Chilean capital, two people burned to death and a third died in hospital after a fire in a supermarket that had been ransacked.
It comes as soldiers patrol Santiago's streets for the first time since a military dictatorship ended in 1990.
Photos from the city showed major damage to subway stations, trains and buses as a result of the protests, while armoured vehicles have been deployed on the Santiago streets.
The controversial fare hike was suspended after 156 police officers and 11 civilians were injured in the violence.
More than 300 people are reported to have been arrested.
President Sebastian Pinera has urged demonstrators to protest peacefully.
In comments quoted by Reuters, he acknowledged people had "good reasons" to take to the streets - but added that "nobody has the right to act with brutal criminal violence".
Mr Pinera confirmed in social media posts overnight that he had suspended the fare hike after listening 'humbly to the voice of the people'.
