Huge blackouts cripple Spain and Portugal

Spain and Portugal lost power Monday in a massive blackout, according to the Spanish grid operator.

Blackouts were reported from Madrid to Lisbon, with large parts of the Iberian Peninsula without power as of late morning Monday.

In a statement on X, Spanish transmission system operator Red Eléctrica, which manages the flow of electricity at the national level, said that protocols had been activated to “restore electricity supply in collaboration with sector companies following the blackout that occurred in the peninsular system.”

“The causes are being analyzed, and all resources are being dedicated to resolving it,” the operator said.

Traffic lights blinked off and metro systems ground to a halt across Spain and Portugal as the flow of power was abruptly cut around 12:30 p.m. Although both countries’ hospitals are equipped with generators, authorities indicated that staff had been asked to turn off computers and take other steps to conserve power because it’s unknown how long the blackout could last. 

Spanish authorities asked residents not to call emergency services for information, warning that telephone centers were already being overwhelmed with calls.

This story is being updated.