Spain, Portugal Blackout Disrupts Subways, Airports, ATMs/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A massive power outage plunged Spain and Portugal into chaos Monday, halting transportation, shutting down ATMs, and knocking out mobile services. Authorities are investigating the cause, though cyberattack suspicions have so far been ruled out. Power restoration efforts are underway, with full recovery expected within hours.
Massive Power Outage Hits Spain and Portugal Hard: Quick Looks
- Power outage cuts subway, rail, traffic lights, and ATMs in Spain, Portugal.
- Red Eléctrica says full restoration could take 6–10 hours.
- No evidence yet of cyberattack; investigation ongoing.
- Spanish PM convenes National Security Council; Portugal holds emergency meeting.
- Airports, hospitals, and emergency services operating on backup generators.
- Mobile phone networks and internet connectivity disrupted in major cities.
- Transportation heavily impacted; citizens advised to stay off roads.
- Recent European concerns rise over potential sabotage threats.
Spain, Portugal Blackout Disrupts Subways, Airports, ATMs
Deep Look
Spain and Portugal Reeling After Widespread Power Blackout Shuts Down Services
BARCELONA, Spain — A sweeping power outage brought daily life to a halt across Spain and Portugal on Monday, crippling subways, railways, airports, and communication networks in one of Europe’s most significant electrical failures in recent history.
The blackout struck just after midday, plunging vast areas of the Iberian Peninsula into chaos. Red Eléctrica, Spain’s power grid operator, said full restoration could take six to ten hours, with progressive recovery already underway by late afternoon.
Authorities stressed there is currently no evidence pointing to a cyberattack, even as Europe remains alert to potential sabotage threats.
A Region Brought to a Standstill
The outage hit both Madrid and Lisbon hard, closing businesses, disrupting mobile networks, freezing ATMs, and bringing traffic to a crawl as traffic lights went dark.
In Barcelona, pedestrians flooded the streets, directing traffic at busy intersections and crowding shops in search of battery-powered radios. Some residents simply took to outdoor cafes, making the best of a sunny day while awaiting news.
Spain’s Canary and Balearic Islands, along with the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, were spared.
The disruption’s full reach remains unclear, but it impacted millions across the two countries, whose combined population tops 60 million.
Official Responses and Emergency Measures
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez convened an extraordinary session of the National Security Council and visited Red Eléctrica’s headquarters to oversee recovery efforts. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro held emergency meetings and coordinated closely with Madrid.
Officials in Portugal said early indications pointed to a failure originating within Spain’s electricity distribution network. Portuguese power company E-Redes confirmed that localized blackouts were necessary to stabilize the broader European electricity system.
“It’s an exceptional and extraordinary event,” said Eduardo Prieto, Red Eléctrica’s operations chief.
Impact on Infrastructure and Public Services
Public transportation was among the hardest hit sectors:
- Metro stations in Madrid and Barcelona were evacuated as trains ground to a halt.
- Spain’s Transportation Minister Oscar Puente announced that rail services would not resume Monday, even if power returned.
- Air travel was also disrupted, with major airports operating on backup systems and flight delays reported in Madrid and Barcelona.
- In Lisbon, airport terminals were evacuated, and tourists languished outside waiting for updates.
- Hospitals switched to emergency generators, while Lisbon’s police boosted patrols to manage non-functioning traffic signals and assist citizens trapped in elevators.
Court sessions in Portugal were suspended, and banking services, including ATMs and card payments, suffered widespread outages.
Recent European Concerns Heighten Alarm
The blackout follows a March fire that shut down London’s Heathrow Airport, raising regional concerns over vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure. While there’s no current evidence linking Monday’s incident to sabotage, the scale and timing of the outage have renewed focus on Europe’s energy security.
Teresa Ribera, European Commission executive vice president, described the event as “one of the most serious episodes recorded in Europe in recent times.”
Public Reaction and Adaptation
In cities like Terrassa, near Barcelona, stores selling backup generators quickly ran out of stock as residents scrambled for solutions. Without mobile coverage, residents turned to radio and word-of-mouth to stay informed.
Barcelona’s streets filled with a mixture of confusion and resilience, with some taking advantage of the shutdown to socialize outdoors.
In Portugal, police units were deployed in larger numbers to assist with traffic and public safety, and the National Authority for Emergencies activated emergency protocols.
The Road to Recovery
By late Monday afternoon, Red Eléctrica reported gradual restoration of services across northern, southern, and western Spain. Portugal also saw progressive improvements.
Officials stressed that while initial recovery was underway, investigations into the root cause could take days.
In the meantime, both Spain and Portugal face an urgent task: ensuring their critical infrastructure is better shielded from future widespread outages — whatever their cause may ultimately prove to be.
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