Europe's Largest Blackout: Spain and Portugal Strive for Recovery
Spain and Portugal are swiftly working to restore normalcy following the largest power outage in Europe's recent history, which cast numerous cities into darkness and trapped tens of thousands of passengers on trains. By Tuesday morning, all electricity substations in Spain were operational, and nearly the entire power supply, at 99.95%, had been restored. Meanwhile, in Portugal, a representative for the electrical operator REN confirmed the full functionality of substations and the stabilization of the national power grid.
The incident, which began late Monday afternoon, was characterized by speculation and conjecture. Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, informed the public that experts were investigating the root cause of the unwanted blackout. "That’s something that has never happened before," Sánchez stated, noting that it started abruptly at 12:33 PM when 15 gigawatts of electricity—equivalent to 60% of the country's usage—vanished for five seconds. He assured citizens that all potential causes are being examined and no assumption is being dismissed.
In a statement released early Tuesday, Spain's national meteorological office, Aemet, discounted the weather as a contributing factor, stating that no unusual meteorological phenomena had occurred on the day of the outage. Airports across Spain operated normally on Tuesday, although the transport ministry advised travelers to confirm their itineraries with airlines and verify public transport availability to the airports.
Renfe, the state railway operator, reported a gradual return to regular train service despite the blackout's severe impact on operations. Over 35,000 individuals were rescued from more than 100 stranded trains, and in Madrid, around 150,000 passengers were safely evacuated from a paralyzed metro system. By Tuesday morning, the metro services had resumed on nearly all lines, with 80% of trains running for the morning rush. Madrid’s regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, confirmed that the metro was fully operational, with schools and healthcare facilities also open. In Catalonia, underground and bus services were back to regular operations, although local train services remained disrupted.
Widespread outages like this are uncommon in Europe. Historical blackouts include a 2003 incident that left parts of Italy and Switzerland in darkness for about 12 hours and a 2006 event caused by an overloaded power network affecting multiple countries.
Businesses in Madrid reopened by 10 AM, with residents flocking to ATMs to access cash previously unavailable during the blackout. The city’s busiest railway station, Madrid Atocha, transformed into an impromptu campsite as frustrated travelers camped on cardboard amidst heaps of luggage while seeking updates on the situation. Many passengers expressed distress; one couple was seen leaving in tears, while others desperately attempted to contact family members.
Twenty-four-year-old Ruben Coiran, who was trying to return home to Barcelona, recounted his grueling experience of being stranded for 11 hours in Atocha, stating, "It’s tough dealing with the cold and the hunger. We’re having a pretty rough time. There were elderly people and children who hadn’t eaten for six or seven hours, and there were no toilet facilities available."
As the recovery process continues, the focus remains on understanding the full implications of the blackout and ensuring that such an event does not happen again in the future.
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