Spain, Portugal, and parts of France have been hit with major power outages that have left millions without electricity. This has affected transportation and hospitals, among many other services, with no clear cause of the outages identified at this point.
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According to Euronews, Spain and Portugal reported nationwide power outages on Monday, April 28. Parts of France bordering Spain, as well as Andorra residents, reported similar outages.
Flights departing and arriving at Spanish and Portuguese airports were cancelled. Specifically, Barajas International Airport in Madrid, Spain, and Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon, Portugal, were closed due to the lack of electricity.
Trains across the Iberian Peninsula were also delayed or cancelled, with multiple reports of people getting stuck inside trains or even lifts, as per Reuters. According to Spain's Minister of Transport, Oscar Puente, train services won't be resumed on Monday. As per CNN, a total of 116 trains were stranded due to the power outages.
Hospitals were also affected across the aforementioned countries, with many surgeries and procedures being cancelled as a result. In particular, a hospital in Setúbal, Portugal, was able to operate thanks to a backup generator.
Local businesses were also disrupted by the blackouts. Not only that, but telecommunications were also affected, with mobile networks and the Internet being inaccessible throughout Spain and Portugal.
Cause Unknown
Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, said on Monday that the cause of the blackouts was unknown. Officials are still investigating the incident, and Sánchez urged the public, as per CNN, to avoid speculation.
It was also believed by many residents and shared online that the incident was prompted by a cyberattack. However, President of the European Council Antonio Costa said that "there are no indications of any cyberattack."
Power has slowly been restored across several areas in Spain and Portugal. However, it will take hours before power is fully restored across the European countries.
European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen addressed the power outages on X.
"Following the massive blackout, we stand ready to support Spain and Portugal in putting their systems back on track," Jørgensen wrote. "Power is already back in some regions. Network operators and ENTSOE doing everything possible on the ground. Solidarity and unity are key for our Energy Union."
