The power outage began around midday and quickly descended into nationwide disarray, affecting millions and leading authorities to advise residents of Madrid to stay put. The operator in Spain warned that power restoration could take up to ten hours while Portugal's REN indicated a week might be necessary. As the electrical grid faltered, internet and phone services also experienced disruptions, leaving many unable to communicate. Inside Madrid's Atocha train station, police announced closures, causing significant delays for travelers as multiple trains were canceled or evacuated.
Shops, homes, and restaurants were plunged into darkness, and panic spread among residents, prompting Madrid's mayor to issue instructions for citizens to limit movement and avoid unnecessary interactions with emergency services. Hospitals began implementing emergency plans due to the blackout, halting routine operations as they prepared for potential surges in urgent cases.
As evening approached, reports indicated that power had been restored in some areas, specifically in the north, south, and west of the country. Nonetheless, the Spanish electricity operator cautioned that the situation was still developing. Energy facilities, including nuclear plants, automatically shut down as a safety measure amid the outage, causing the Spanish oil company Moeve to cease operations at its refineries.
Air travel was also heavily impacted, with multiple flight delays from major airlines including EasyJet, which advised passengers to stay updated. Also impacted were prominent events such as the Madrid Open Tennis, which canceled its matches for the day. Neighboring regions, including parts of France and Andorra, experienced similar outages, but the Balearic and Canary Islands remained unaffected. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the outage, ruling out cyberattacks as a potential factor.
As the situation continues to evolve, residents are urged to stay informed and adhere to safety precautions.
If you were affected by the outage, share your experiences at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Shops, homes, and restaurants were plunged into darkness, and panic spread among residents, prompting Madrid's mayor to issue instructions for citizens to limit movement and avoid unnecessary interactions with emergency services. Hospitals began implementing emergency plans due to the blackout, halting routine operations as they prepared for potential surges in urgent cases.
As evening approached, reports indicated that power had been restored in some areas, specifically in the north, south, and west of the country. Nonetheless, the Spanish electricity operator cautioned that the situation was still developing. Energy facilities, including nuclear plants, automatically shut down as a safety measure amid the outage, causing the Spanish oil company Moeve to cease operations at its refineries.
Air travel was also heavily impacted, with multiple flight delays from major airlines including EasyJet, which advised passengers to stay updated. Also impacted were prominent events such as the Madrid Open Tennis, which canceled its matches for the day. Neighboring regions, including parts of France and Andorra, experienced similar outages, but the Balearic and Canary Islands remained unaffected. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the outage, ruling out cyberattacks as a potential factor.
As the situation continues to evolve, residents are urged to stay informed and adhere to safety precautions.
If you were affected by the outage, share your experiences at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
