A massive power outage has struck Spain and Portugal, affecting millions and causing widespread disruptions. Madrid’s mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, urged residents to minimize movement and keep roads clear for emergency services, as traffic and streetlights were nonoperational, along with the closure of some road tunnels. This outage occurred around midday local time, plunging public transport systems, including Madrid’s subway, into darkness and even halting operations at the Spanish parliament.
The Madrid Open tennis tournament faced significant disruptions when players had to leave the court due to non-functioning scoreboards and cameras. Tournament organizers are working to restore normal conditions as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, speculation arose regarding the cause of the blackout, with a Portuguese minister suggesting that it might be the result of a cyberattack, affecting not just the Iberian Peninsula but also impacting France and Germany. However, the National Cyber Security Centre stated no evidence had been found to support this claim. In response to the outage, the Portuguese government is forming a working group to investigate.
The blackout has significantly impacted businesses and public services. In northwestern Spain, darkened bars and markets were reported, while major traffic disruptions complicated travel plans, particularly at airports where planes were grounded due to the outage. Spanish electricity grid operator Red Eléctrica is actively working to restore power and has made progress in re-establishing electricity in various regions. Overall, this incident highlights the vulnerability of essential services amid energy crises.
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