MADRID, SPAIN – A massive power outage has plunged large portions of Spain and Portugal into chaos, disrupting daily life and causing widespread confusion. In Madrid, traffic lights ceased to function, leading to chaotic scenes on the streets as drivers navigated intersections without guidance. The Spanish national railway company reported a complete halt in train services, with no departures taking place nationwide. Meanwhile, parts of Madrid’s underground were evacuated as the city grappled with the blackout.
Spain’s power grid operator, Red Eléctrica, is working closely with energy companies to restore electricity. The Spanish government has convened a crisis meeting at the offices of Red Eléctrica to address the situation. The outage has also affected parts of France, where power was briefly lost, and Portugal, where similar disruptions have been reported.
The cause of the blackout remains unclear, and authorities are investigating. Spanish airports, while experiencing some disruptions, have activated contingency generators to maintain operations. The Iberian Peninsula, home to over 50 million people, is experiencing significant impacts from the outage.
Reports indicate that communications are hindered, with phone lines and internet networks affected, further complicating efforts to manage the crisis. The Spanish Prime Minister and Energy Minister are en route to Red Eléctrica’s headquarters to oversee the recovery efforts.
In addition to affecting transportation and communication, the power outage has disrupted the Madrid Open tennis tournament, causing play to be suspended due to malfunctioning scoreboards and cameras. Former British tennis player Jacob Fernley was among those affected when play was halted.
As the situation develops, authorities are working tirelessly to restore normalcy. However, the full extent of the outage and its impact on daily life across Spain and Portugal remains to be seen.