Spanish and Portuguese residents still facing power outages; Airports and Mobile networks hit

Spain, Portugal were plunged into darkness after a massive power outage on Monday, leaving millions without electricity. Parts of France temporarily lost power, as per French grid operator RTE.

Numerous passengers were left stranded in the metros in the Spanish and Portuguese capitals, with trains stuck in the tunnels between stations, reported Euronews Portugal. The blackout has affected hospitals, too, including Madrid's La Paz.

Hours after the outage, electricity was restored to some areas in the north and the south of Spain, said PM Pedro Sánchez. Portugal's electricity distributor REN also stated that it was able to recover electricity production at Castelo de Bode hydroelectric plant and Tapada do Outeiro thermoelectric plant.

Why are Portugal and Spain without electricity?

The cause of the massive power outage across Spain and Portugal remains uncertain.

Local media reports say that disruptions in the broader European power grid have affected national networks throughout the Iberian Peninsula. One possible explanation being investigated is a fire on Alaric Mountain in southwest France, which damaged a high-voltage power line between Perpignan and eastern Narbonne.

Stay tuned for LIVE updates on Spain, Portugal power outage

Cash points in Libson saw people lining up in long queues, after card payments were affected, reported BBC.

Balearic and Canary Islands, however, do not appear to have been affected. Local reports say there are traffic jams in the centre of the Spanish capital, Madrid, due to traffic lights not working.

Is it a cyber attack?

Some hospitals suspended routine operations, and both Spain and Portugal governments held emergency cabinet meetings, with officials initially stating that a cyberattack could not be ruled out, reported Reuters.

Large-scale outages like this are extremely rare in Europe, and the exact cause remains unclear at this time.

Latest Updates on Spain and Portugal Power Outage

Following the massive outage, day and night sessions of the Madrid Open have been cancelled. British tennis player Jacob Fearnley was forced to leave the court when play was halted, reported the BBC.

Here are the latest updates from the outage:

1. No power at Madrid's International Airport -Madrid's Barajas International Airport was left without power, and telecommunications have been disrupted, with residents across the region reporting no access to mobile networks.

Meanwhile, other airports in the area have come to a standstill due to the ongoing power outage, states a report by Euronews.

2.Madrid Metro services 'interrupted for reasons beyond control’: Madrid Metro posted on X: “The Metro service is interrupted for reasons beyond its control due to a power outage.”

3. Mobile phone networks in Spain hit by outage: Mobile phone networks in Spain, have also been hit by the massive power cut. According to BBC, AFP reporters in Madrid and Barcelona saw people heading into the streets, holding their smartphones up to try to connect to a network.

4. Restoring power could take 10 hours: Speaking at a news conference, Red Electrica CEO Eduardo Prieto told reporters that the operation to solve the issue could take "between six and ten hours".

5. Flights delayed: Gatwick Airport, in London, said it is experiencing short delays on flights to Spain and Portugal. The airport says there have so far been no cancellations and it's waiting for the issues to be resolved, reported BBC.

6. Electricity production recovered: Portugal's electricity distributor REN stated that it was able to recover electricity production at Castelo de Bode hydroelectric plant and Tapada do Outeiro thermoelectric plant.

7. In pics | Vendors, shop owners work without lights: Several photos and videos emerged, showing vendors and shop owners in Barcelona, Spain working in the dark, after the outage cut off electricity supply.

8. Electricity restored: Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez said that electricity has been restored to some areas in the north and the south of Spain.

9. Portugal capital struggles with traffic: In the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, streets are gridlocked with traffic as police officers step in to manage the flow, replacing non-functioning traffic lights with whistles and hand signals, reported BBC.

10. Metro closed, buses swamped: People waited in huge queues for the buses as metro was shut.

11. Traffic Chaos in Portugal and Spain: Major traffic chaos reported across Portugal and Spain due to a power outage. Traffic officers are manually directing vehicles in Lisbon. Police officers are managing the flow of passengers at Lisbon Airport. Efforts are underway to control both road and airport traffic amid continuing power disruptions.

12. Spain declares State of Emergency: Spain's Interior Ministry has declared a state of emergency following a major power outage. The emergency status will apply to regions that formally request it. Madrid, Andalusia, and Extremadura have already requested the central government to take over public order and other essential functions.

13. More than 48% of Spain's power demand recovered, says electricity operator: At 10.30 pm, Spanish power operator Red Electrica has said more than 48% of the country's power demand has been recovered - 48.2% (12,779 MW). The the operator says in a post on social media platform X that 66% of the transmission grid's substations are now energized.

14. Power returns to Madrid as shops and Metro prepare to reopen: Power is being restored in Madrid, with some shops and parts of the Metro regaining electricity. Public transport, including trains and the metro, remains closed for now. Security is gathering at Sol metro station, indicating it may reopen soon. Rural areas north of Madrid report power and WiFi restoration.

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