Power outage slowly returns to Spain and Portugal

LISBON/MADRID: A massive power outage has left large parts of Portugal and Spain without electricity, prompting the latter to declare a state of emergency.

The outage began shortly after midday local time and has so far impacted regions including Madrid, Andalusia and Extremadura.

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The Spanish Interior Ministry confirmed that the state of emergency allowed affected regions to request additional support from the national government.

The measure is aimed at facilitating a coordinated response to the crisis affecting millions across the Iberian Peninsula and parts of France even.

As per reports, electricity supply was gradually being restored in both countries. Over 20 per cent of the affected power capacity was reportedly restored in Spain; this includes Catalonia and the Basque region of the European country.

Meanwhile in Portugal, key facilities – the Castelo de Bode hydroelectric power station and the Tapada de Outeiro thermoelectric plant – were reportedly now operational.

The power outage caused huge disruptions to transportation systems in Spain and Portugal, with the latter’s Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon cancelling several flights.

Traffic chaos also followed on the roads due to non-functioning traffic lights leading to mass confusion. Police was deployed to direct traffic.

Meanwhile, public reacted angrily to the power outage, with long queues seen at supermarkets as citizens panicked. There is also a huge disruption in communications due to downed phone networks. Some residents reportedly resorted to wind-up radios for information.

In midst of the chaos, Spain’s Prime Minster Pedro Sánchez stated that there was no conclusion information regarding the cause of the outage. Both he and the Portugal’s PM, Luís Montenegro, stated that there are no indications of a cyberattack.

The situation is currently “under investigation”, with officials ‘exploring’ various theories. Officials also could not provide a tentative deadline for restoration of power.

Authorities in both countries urged the residents to remain indoors, with the mayor of Lisbon describing the streets as ‘calm and serene’. He, however, admitted that ongoing challenges.

While some public transport services were operational, long- and medium-distance train services in Spain were suspended under further notice.

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Most importantly, Spain’s Nuclear Safety Council confirmed that the nuclear power plants were safe, as they automatically shut down during power loss and are maintained by backup generators.