Spain, Portugal Hit With National Power Outage; Flights, Telephone Lines, Traffic Lights, Railway Lines Disrupted

Iberian neighbors Spain and Portugal have been hit by a nationwide power outage, leading to disruptions across multiple sectors.

According to the Spanish power grid operator Red Electrica, the outage occurred early Monday morning. It states It is working to restore electricity supplies and analyse the causes of the blackouts.

Impact of Electricity Blackout

The impact of the electricity blackout has been profound across both countries. Spain’s national railway company, Renfe, states in the aftermath of the blackout, “Trains stopped” and were “without departures” at all stations nationwide.

Play has also been suspended at the Madrid Open, an annual clay tennis tournament after the loss of power affected scoreboards and a camera above the court; similarly, Portuguese police say traffic lights are affected across the country, with the metro closed in the capital city of Lisbon as well as Porto, and trains not running.

Madrid’s Barajas International Airport was left without power, while telecommunications have also been affected, with residents across the two countries saying they have no access to mobile networks.

What Authorities are Doing

The Spanish government has gathered for an emergency session at Moncloa and is monitoring the situation as it develops. Spanish grid operator Red Eléctrica has however said it is working with energy companies to restore power with parts of France and Andorra also at risk.