A massive power outage on Monday has left millions across Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France reeling in chaos, with widespread disruptions to transport and communication systems.
Videos circulating on social media show people walking in the dark through subway stations, airports, and city streets as the outage paralyzed services, including flights and public transit. Crowds could be seen forced to walk on the streets as public transport came to a standstill.
The blackout, which began around 12.30 PM local time, affected critical infrastructure in several regions. Spain's state electricity network operator, Red Electrica, confirmed the restoration of power to the northern and southern regions, but communications were severely impacted, with multiple services experiencing delays and cancellations.
In Spain, Madrid's Barajas International Airport and several regional airports lost power, while metro stations across the country saw trains immobilized, trapping passengers between stations. The outage also reached Lisbon and surrounding areas, with Portugal’s national distributor, E-Redes, attributing the disruption to "a problem with the European electricity system ." The company initiated selective power cuts to stabilize the network.
In both countries, public transportation systems came to a standstill. Metro services halted in Lisbon, and non-functioning traffic lights caused significant congestion in cities. The Spanish Parliament and RTVE’s newsroom were also affected, as well as local communities in Barcelona, where residents shared outage updates via WhatsApp.
While service is being gradually restored, authorities have not yet provided an estimate of the number of individuals impacted or a clear timeline for full recovery. The Spanish government has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the blackout, with Prime Minister's office officials continuing to monitor the situation closely.
Videos circulating on social media show people walking in the dark through subway stations, airports, and city streets as the outage paralyzed services, including flights and public transit. Crowds could be seen forced to walk on the streets as public transport came to a standstill.
The blackout, which began around 12.30 PM local time, affected critical infrastructure in several regions. Spain's state electricity network operator, Red Electrica, confirmed the restoration of power to the northern and southern regions, but communications were severely impacted, with multiple services experiencing delays and cancellations.
In Spain, Madrid's Barajas International Airport and several regional airports lost power, while metro stations across the country saw trains immobilized, trapping passengers between stations. The outage also reached Lisbon and surrounding areas, with Portugal’s national distributor, E-Redes, attributing the disruption to "a problem with the European electricity system ." The company initiated selective power cuts to stabilize the network.
In both countries, public transportation systems came to a standstill. Metro services halted in Lisbon, and non-functioning traffic lights caused significant congestion in cities. The Spanish Parliament and RTVE’s newsroom were also affected, as well as local communities in Barcelona, where residents shared outage updates via WhatsApp.
While service is being gradually restored, authorities have not yet provided an estimate of the number of individuals impacted or a clear timeline for full recovery. The Spanish government has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the blackout, with Prime Minister's office officials continuing to monitor the situation closely.
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