A significant power outage has disrupted electricity supply across various regions in Spain and Portugal, leading to the failure of traffic lights and causing considerable disarray at airports, train stations, and along the roads. The Spanish power grid operator, Red Electrica, is actively collaborating with energy providers to restore electricity. They indicated that investigations into the cause of the outage are ongoing and that all necessary resources are being mobilised to address the situation.
In the wake of the outage, Portugal’s police have warned that traffic lights and street lighting may also fail. They have advised citizens to reduce their speed and remain vigilant, encouraging them to minimise travel during this crisis and emphasising that safe driving is paramount.
The outage has also affected Spain’s national train services. Spanish rail operator Renfe confirmed that the nationwide power failure has halted train operations and forced the cancellation of numerous departures. Meanwhile, E-Redes, the electricity provider for mainland Portugal, stated their commitment to restoring connections and highlighted that this issue is part of a broader European energy concern.
Together, Spain and Portugal host over 50 million inhabitants, though it remains unclear how many individuals are directly impacted by the outage. As the situation develops, authorities continue to provide updates and instructions to the public.