Unprecedented Blackout in Spain and Portugal: Recovery Operations Underway
Operations are in full swing to restore electricity in Spain and Portugal following a massive blackout that left vast areas without power on Monday. This unprecedented event caused major disruptions in telecommunications and transportation, leading to significant inconveniences across both countries. The blackout, which took place around noon, is still under investigation, and the specific causes remain unknown. Officials have, however, indicated that there are no current signs of malicious intent, such as sabotage or cyberattacks.
As of Tuesday morning, electrification efforts have seen progress. At 6 AM, Red Eléctrica, the Spanish public company that governs the country’s electrical connections, announced that nearly 99.2% of electricity had been restored in Spain. In Portugal, the latest update from Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN) reported that 85 out of 89 electrical substations have been reactivated by Monday evening.
Despite these efforts, many challenges persist. Public transport systems remain inactive, leading to the cancellation of classes across various schools and universities for Tuesday, as well as a suspension of the Spanish parliament's work. Healthcare facilities continue to operate using emergency generators to power essential medical equipment, including ventilators and cardiac monitors.
The blackout began just before lunch at 12:33 PM when a substantial and abrupt decline in electricity production was detected, primarily attributed to the country's nuclear plants. Spain hosts five nuclear plants generating around 20% of its national energy through seven reactors. Within seconds, power production dropped by approximately 15 gigawatts, significantly impacting the European electrical system linked to Spain through France.
Eduardo Prieto, operational manager of Red Eléctrica, explained that this disconnection triggered a collapse of the electrical system, leading to the widespread blackout. Prieto estimated that restoration of power would take between six and ten hours.
The blackout has caused considerable disturbances. Local mayors and authorities warned against driving due to non-functioning traffic lights, resulting in severe traffic issues, particularly in urban areas. Industrial operations also halted, and customers were forced to use cash for transactions in many shops and supermarkets, leading to long queues at ATMs.
Additionally, hundreds of flights were canceled, and public transport ceased in both countries. Numerous individuals were trapped in subway systems but were later freed, while emergency calls spiked as people found themselves stuck in elevators. Some regions reported temporary slowdowns in internet connectivity, with concerns that prolonged blackouts could strain internet infrastructures, particularly mobile networks.
By 9:30 PM on the same day, approximately 35% of electricity had been restored in Spain, and by 10:30 PM, nearly half of the outages in both Spain and Portugal had been rectified, focusing on major cities first. The continued efforts from government and energy officials aim to bring the last affected areas back to normalcy as soon as possible.
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