Massive power outage disrupts trains, flights, and traffic lights across Spain and Portugal.
Massive power outage has swept across large areas of Spain and Portugal, cutting electricity, shutting down traffic lights, and causing widespread disruption at airports, train stations, and on the roads.
Portugal’s grid operator, Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN), reported that the electrical supply was lost across the entire Iberian Peninsula and parts of France on Monday. Spain’s grid operator warned that it could take several hours to restore power, raising the prospect of widespread darkness after sunset.
The outage knocked out screens, lighting, and power outlets throughout the region. Portugal’s police urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel due to the failure of traffic lights. “Reduce your speed and stay alert,” they advised. “Prioritise safe driving: your calmness saves lives.”
In Madrid, traffic quickly backed up after the traffic lights went dark. “I was driving and suddenly there were no traffic lights... It was a bit of a jungle,” A person said. “I saw a massive bus coming and had to accelerate hard to get past it.”
While the exact cause of the sudden blackout remained unclear, its effects were dramatic.
Madrid’s mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, urged residents to limit their movements and to contact emergency services only for urgent matters. He also called on people to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles. Later, Madrid’s emergency services agency asked the national government to declare a state of emergency. Efforts to restore power began immediately after the grid collapse but could stretch into the night.
“The experience of similar incidents in other countries tells us that fully reestablishing the electrical supply will take several hours,” Eduardo Prieto, director of system operations at Red Eléctrica, told broadcaster La Sexta.
“We could be looking at six to ten hours, if everything goes well, before power is restored to every last customer,” he added.
Spain and Portugal, home to around 60 million people, are major hubs for transport, business, and tourism, with Madrid and Lisbon at the heart of the disruption.
Portugal’s National Institute for Medical Emergencies said it had activated its contingency plan, switching its telephone and IT systems to backup generators. Spain’s health ministry confirmed similar emergency measures were taken in hospitals across the country.
Flights at major airports were suddenly delayed or canceled, leaving travelers scrambling to adjust. Online flight trackers showed that several airports experienced abrupt halts in departures after midday. Portugal’s flag carrier, TAP Air Portugal, advised travelers not to head to the airport until further notice.
Inside Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport, hundreds of stranded passengers stood in the dark, with no air conditioning or running water, according to holidaymaker Ellie Kenny. Shops were only accepting cash as electronic payment systems were knocked out.
Some areas of southern France, close to the Spanish border, also experienced brief disruptions.
Émilie Grandidier, a spokeswoman for France’s electricity transmission operator RTE, said there had been “a small power cut” in the French Basque Country. “It lasted only a couple of minutes and was restored very quickly,” she added.
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