A massive power outage crippled Spain and Portugal on Monday, leaving millions without electricity. The blackout caused widespread disruptions, with reports of stalled trains, grounded flights, and people trapped in lifts.
Assessing the Damage
The outage affected parts of France as well. Train services were severely impacted, with multiple trains canceled or evacuated. Several airports also experienced disruptions, resulting in delayed or canceled flights and stranding numerous passengers. Traffic lights malfunctioned, causing congestion in multiple cities. Some hospitals activated emergency protocols, temporarily suspending certain services.
Restoration Efforts
As of Tuesday morning, approximately 50% of Spain had regained power, according to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. A spokesperson for Spain’s electricity grid indicated that full restoration could take several hours. In Portugal, an energy company reported that 750,000 customers had their power restored, but a complete recovery might take up to a week.
Investigating the Cause
Leaders from Spain, Portugal, and the European Union have found no evidence suggesting a cyberattack caused the outage. The head of Europe’s electricity industry association pointed to a potential issue with the power connection between France and Spain. An incident on this link may have isolated Spain’s grid from the broader European network, although other factors could also be involved. The region remains under a state of emergency, with certain areas eligible for special status upon request.
The source of this information can be found on CNN.