Spain announces state of emergency following nationwide power outage
Spain declared a state of emergency on Monday following a massive power outage that caused the entire Iberian Peninsula to be plunged into darkness. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the incident. The blackout, which hit...
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Spain declared a state of emergency on Monday following a massive power outage that caused the entire Iberian Peninsula to be plunged into darkness. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the incident.
The blackout, which hit Spain and Portugal around midday and briefly affected some areas in France, left millions without electricity, disrupted public transport, and caused flight delays.
In a televised address, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that the Ministry of the Interior would take charge of the situation in Madrid, Andalusia, and Extremadura to maintain public order and other essential functions at the request of regional leaders.
Sanchez indicated that the measure would extend “to the regions that want it,” and acknowledged, “We are aware of the impact this [power outage] is having.”
The Level 3 National Emergency Plan permits the deployment of the army to uphold order and security in areas where it is enacted. Sanchez emphasized that there was “no security problem,” noting that State Security Forces had increased their presence on the streets and highways.
The Interior Ministry reported that around 30,000 police officers had been stationed nationwide as the blackout extended into the evening.
The announcement coincided with Red Electrica, the grid operator, stating that electricity had been restored in parts of Catalonia, Aragon, the Basque Country, and Andalusia, while they worked to determine the cause of the outage.
Earlier, Portugal’s grid operator Redes Energeticas Nacionais mentioned a “rare atmospheric phenomenon” over Spain, which was triggered by “extreme temperature variations,” as a possible cause of the blackout.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro later clarified that authorities still did not know the cause of the outage, asserting that it “did not originate in Portugal” and that “everything indicates” the issue began in Spain.
Spanish officials have yet to confirm the cause of the blackout. Addressing the uncertainty, Sanchez pointed out that there was no conclusive information and urged the public to refrain from speculation.
REN reported that by Monday evening, they had restored power to approximately 750,000 of their 6.5 million consumers.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
The blackout, which hit Spain and Portugal around midday and briefly affected some areas in France, left millions without electricity, disrupted public transport, and caused flight delays.
In a televised address, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that the Ministry of the Interior would take charge of the situation in Madrid, Andalusia, and Extremadura to maintain public order and other essential functions at the request of regional leaders.
Sanchez indicated that the measure would extend “to the regions that want it,” and acknowledged, “We are aware of the impact this [power outage] is having.”
The Level 3 National Emergency Plan permits the deployment of the army to uphold order and security in areas where it is enacted. Sanchez emphasized that there was “no security problem,” noting that State Security Forces had increased their presence on the streets and highways.
The Interior Ministry reported that around 30,000 police officers had been stationed nationwide as the blackout extended into the evening.
The announcement coincided with Red Electrica, the grid operator, stating that electricity had been restored in parts of Catalonia, Aragon, the Basque Country, and Andalusia, while they worked to determine the cause of the outage.
Earlier, Portugal’s grid operator Redes Energeticas Nacionais mentioned a “rare atmospheric phenomenon” over Spain, which was triggered by “extreme temperature variations,” as a possible cause of the blackout.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro later clarified that authorities still did not know the cause of the outage, asserting that it “did not originate in Portugal” and that “everything indicates” the issue began in Spain.
Spanish officials have yet to confirm the cause of the blackout. Addressing the uncertainty, Sanchez pointed out that there was no conclusive information and urged the public to refrain from speculation.
REN reported that by Monday evening, they had restored power to approximately 750,000 of their 6.5 million consumers.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
