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Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has assured the public that efforts to restore power across the nation are being prioritized following a massive blackout that affected millions on the Iberian Peninsula. Speaking late Monday night, he conveyed optimism that electricity would be fully restored by Tuesday, noting that approximately 50% of the national supply had returned in the hours following the outage.
The blackout occurred due to extreme temperature fluctuations, as reported by the Portuguese grid operator, leaving both Spain and Portugal paralyzed. Public transportation systems, traffic signals, ATMs, and internet services were all significantly impacted.
With mobility severely hampered, many found themselves trapped in elevators, stranded on trains, or navigating darkened metro tunnels. Mobile phone service was disrupted, and while hospitals managed to power critical operations with generators, the majority of ATMs were non-functional.
The incident recalls the widespread power failures in the US northeast in 2003, leading to halted rail services and disrupted air travel. Emergency services were active, and Madrid’s mayor, José Luis Martinez-Almeida, urged residents to limit travel to aid rescue efforts.
Sánchez stressed the uncertainty surrounding the cause of the outage, stating that officials were categorically exploring all possible reasons. He indicated that the national grid operator, Red Eléctrica, could not yet provide a timeframe for a return to normalcy. He referred to the event as “exceptional and extraordinary,” with operations continuously being adjusted to restore electricity without further disruptions.
By 10 PM local time, progress had been made, with 62% of the nation’s substations operational, while Portugal’s grid claimed to have addressed issues in 85 of its 89 substations.
Late-night city scenes in Madrid showcased relief as some residents celebrated the gradual return of electricity. The power cut, which began at 12:33 PM, saw an unprecedented loss of 15 gigawatts—equivalent to 60% of the energy in use at that time.
The Portuguese operator, REN, linked the blackout to a “rare atmospheric phenomenon” that created unusual oscillations in high-voltage lines, impacting the synchronized functioning of interconnected electrical systems in Europe. Such widespread outages have been relatively uncommon, with notable incidents in 2003 and 2006 across various parts of Europe.
Sánchez expressed gratitude to France and Morocco for offering assistance in restoring electrical supply. He also noted that hospitals were functioning adequately, thanks to their emergency protocols and staff efforts, while additional law enforcement resources were deployed to maintain public safety during the chaotic situation.
While certain transportation options were still available, passengers faced extensive waits for operational buses. Sánchez reported that only a small fraction of the day’s flights had been canceled, while the road network experienced minimal disruptions despite traffic congestions in urban areas.
In light of the situation’s severity, the Spanish Health Ministry continued to coordinate with local authorities to monitor the extent of the blackout, assuring residents of hospitals’ preparedness with backup systems.
Portugal also faced challenges. The capital, Lisbon, reported disruptions as metro services were interrupted and digital payment systems failed, leading to panic buying of emergency supplies.
As a result of the emergency, Sánchez noted that several regions, including Andalucía and Madrid, had declared a level 3 emergency, transferring control of the response to the central government. Schools in these areas were set to open Tuesday but would not conduct regular classes.
While some regions regained nearly all power and others struggled with less than 15% restored, Sánchez advised non-essential workers to remain at home as the situation remained inconsistent. “It’s going to be a long night,” he remarked, reinforcing the commitment to restoring normalcy as quickly as possible.
Source
www.theguardian.com