Huge nationwide power outages in Spain and Portugal on Monday caused major disruptions for citizens in both countries. Many posts on social media show commuters crowded in dark metro stations, while reports emerged of citizens getting stuck in elevators, traffic lights failing and bringing vehicles to a standstill, and large queues forming outside ATMs.

So far it is unclear what caused the power outage. Spain’s Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, is holding an emergency meeting at the headquarters of grid operator Red Eléctrica, following the massive blackout.

The government’s objective is to coordinate its response to the widespread power outage. The meeting includes the participation of the two deputy prime ministers as well as the minister of transport.

Similar emergency meetings are also taking place at the regional level across the country.

In Madrid and other cities, many traffic lights ceased to function, resulting in major traffic jams. Metros were also halted. Spain’s national road authority, DGT, urged motorists to stop using the roads.

power outage

Footage from social media in Málaga, on Spain’s southern coast, shows passengers on the subway being forced to walk through the tunnels as the trains are evacuated.

The blackout has left Málaga without electricity, and subway passengers are emerging from the tunnels.

Spanish media reported that the national cybersecurity institute was investigating the possibility of a cyberattack. The country’s national security council was also convened on Monday afternoon to discuss the blackout.

Spain’s national railway company, Renfe, reported that “the entire national electricity grid of the country was cut off” at 12:30 local time.

Industrial complexes in Spain, such as petrochemical refineries, are facing crisis situations. Images of towers emitting thick black smoke from Galicia’s industrial centers are due to the burning of excess products. These facilities operate without steam or electricity, with only control systems powered by generators. However, the plants have shut down abruptly, raising concerns about the consequences, as they are unable to clean pipes, move products, and perform other necessary operations.

In Portugal, the outage hit the capital, Lisbon, and surrounding areas, as well as northern and southern parts of the country.

Several Lisbon metro carriages were evacuated and ATMs and electronic payment systems froze. Portuguese police have warned that traffic lights and street lighting are at risk of shutting down.

power outage

“Reduce your speed and exercise extra caution,” authorities advised, urging citizens to avoid unnecessary travel. The latest reports suggest the blackouts also affected parts of southwest France, according to grid operators.

power outage