Spain & Portugal power outage LATEST: No beer in Benidorm as Brits caught in blackouts with flights grounded & bars shut
PINTS are no longer being pulled in Benidorm as stunned Brits have been caught in power outages with bars shut and flights grounded.
Across Spain and Portugal, entire airports and metro systems have ground to a halt in major cities – sending the countries into chaos.
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Brits abroad have had their holidays severely disrupted from the outages, and can't even enjoy a pint to calm them down amidst the panic.
Benidorm holidaymaker Mark England has warned that "if you haven't got a drink, you are out of luck," with bars and pubs unable to serve drinks due to a lack of power to their pumps.
He told the BBC: "There's still no power. We're walking down the main street now and the majority of shops are in darkness and shuttered up or have people on the entrances saying you can't come in.
"There's no cash machines, no traffic lights so it's strange. It's kind of bizarre."
Meanwhile Melanie Halsall is on the last day of a padel trip with six pals to Vale de Lobo, southern Portugal, and can't get back into the hotel room.
Unlike holidaymakers in Benidorm it seems, she and her pals say they have "beer and biscuits" to live off during the carnage.
Melanie told The Sun: "We were on a walk when suddenly everything went out.
"We can't buy anything because the card machines aren't working - not even water or ice cream. But we have got beer and biscuits so we're surviving on that.
"Everyone is saying it's a Russian cyber attack. It's quite worrying. We're all mums and need to contact our families, but our phones are about to run out and we can't charge them."
Officials are still trying to find out what caused the outage but have not ruled out a Russian cyberattack, with the Spanish National Cybersecurity Institute reportedly investigating.
Data from Spain's electricity grid shows an enormous drop-off in supply over a matter of seconds, just after midday.
5 minutes ago By Annabel Bate
Brits abroad 'living in a horror film' amid power outage chaos
Publican John Stevenson, 53, is on holiday with his wife and two adult children after jetting out to Barcelona on Tuesday last week.
He said: 'The first thing I noticed was I couldn't get down from the fifth floor of my hotel, I thought it was just us to begin with.
'I went down to the supermarket and the whole place was in complete darkness, it was absolutely surreal. It was like a horror film.
'I was able to pay in cash, but at this point in a holiday I have just a little bit that I was looking to get rid of at the airport. If this went on for days it would be hell.
'I've got a higher car and will be driving to the airport later, but I'm nearly empty on fuel and I've not been able to fill up anywhere.
'It just goes to show you, everything can go from being fine, to be in potentially dangerous, completely out of the blue.'
The dad, of Southampton, Hants, added: 'We are too reliant on technology. I've always told my kids this, and now I can see.
'I just hope nobody was hurt during this. It's mayhem.'
10 minutes ago By Daniel Hammond
Fearful locals stockpiling on essentials
In dark supermarkets that have decided to remain open, long cues of local residence were seen, some stockpiling things like toilet paper.
The Sun has seen some turned away from one store, with frightened workers telling people the shortage had spread to France and other countries.
The roads in Barcelona were gridlocked, and with no traffic lights drivers were battling for their chance to pull out of junctions.
By Annabel Bate
Brits unable to get home in time for work as they remain stuck on holiday
Ashley Brown, 38, of Newcastle, was planning to fly home this afternoon but her plans were cut short after all card payments were cut off.
The hair stylist, who is on holiday with a pal, told The Sun: 'We were looking at getting the train back to the airport but there's no way of paying.
'All payments are down. I can't draw any money out. It's an absolute nightmare. I'm meant to see clients in the morning and I can't call to cancel.'
She added: 'It's things like this that really put it into perspective for you. I've got no way of paying for anything, and it's really difficult to get something simple like a bottle of water.
'My flight is gone and there's no way I'm gonna be able to explain this, I can't even call back home.'
21 minutes ago By Annabel Bate
'It's like being in a Netflix drama'
Portuguese musician Nuno Feist, 53, from Lisbon, told The Sun that the power outages has made people feel like they're living in a Netflix show.
He said: "It's like the dark ages here, we don't have access to news, and we can't turn on the TV.
"It's like being in the Netflix drama Zero Day. We believe it is a cyber attack."
21 minutes ago By Annabel Bate
'Living off beers and biscuits' in southern Portugal
Melanie Halsall is on the last day of a padel trip with six pals to Vale de Lobo, southern Portugal, and can't get back into the hotel room.
She told The Sun: "We were on a walk when suddenly everything went out.
"We can't buy anything because the card machines aren't working - not even water or ice cream. But we have got beer and biscuits so we're surviving on that.
"Everyone is saying it's a Russian cyber attack. It's quite worrying. We're all mums and need to contact our families, but our phones are about to run out and we can't charge them."
31 minutes ago By Daniel Hammond
Despite ice cream 'half price,' outages are a 'mega ball-ache'
A Brit, 29, on holiday in Barcelona, has dubbed the power outages a "mega ball ache" - but ice cream is being handed out for half price.
They also shared their fears that "looting" could begin later as day turns to night.
The Northampton local said: 'It's been half price on ice cream. Aside from that it's a mega ball-ache."
31 minutes ago By Annabel Bate
Towns 'ghost like' in Portugal
Holidaymakers in Portugal have told The Sun of the towns being "ghost-like," with hospitals cancelling on patients and flights grounded.
One individual in Tavira told The Sun: "We have had no power since around 11:30am.
"The restaurants are trying to keep going with many cooking on gas, the shopping malls are empty as shops are closed.
"The town in general is very ghost like and it's very strange."
36 minutes ago By Allan Glen
In case you missed it – hospitals in Portugal cancel ALL surgeries
The Misericórdia hospitals cancelled all surgeries scheduled for today following the outage.
Manuel Lemos, president of the National Secretariat of the Union of Portuguese Misericórdias (UMP), told the Expresso newspaper: 'We are finishing the surgeries that are underway and we will not start any more until the situation is resolved,' he explained.
41 minutes ago By Daniel Hammond
Things gone from 'being fine' to 'potentially dangerous'
Publican John Stevenson, 53, is on holiday with his wife and two adult children after jetting out to Barcelona on Tuesday last week.
He said: 'The first thing I noticed was I couldn't get down from the fifth floor of my hotel, I thought it was just us to begin with.
'I went down to the supermarket and the whole place was in complete darkness, it was absolutely surreal. It was like a horror film.
'I was able to pay in cash, but at this point in a holiday I have just a little bit that I was looking to get rid of at the airport. If this went on for days it would be hell.
'I've got a higher car and will be driving to the airport later, but I'm nearly empty on fuel and I've not been able to fill up anywhere.
'It just goes to show you, everything can go from being fine, to be in potentially dangerous, completely out of the blue.'
The dad, of Southampton, Hants, added: 'We are too reliant on technology. I've always told my kids this, and now I can see.
'I just hope nobody was hurt during this. It's mayhem.'
56 minutes ago By Allan Glen
Shops, restaurants and Metro stations close
Shops and restaurants have been forced to close folliowing the outage, which some believe to be a cyber attack.
57 minutes ago By
Holidaymakers 'can't even buy water' amid outage chaos
Stunned Brits have told of their fears at being stuck in Barcelona after the city was brought to a halt in a massive power cut.
Phone signal is down in the holiday hotspot, traffic lights have failed and the only payment method available is cash.
Ashley Brown, 38, of Newcastle, was planning to fly home this afternoon but her plans were cut short after all card payments were cut off.
The hair stylist, who is on holiday with a pal, told The Sun: 'We were looking at getting the train back to the airport but there's no way of paying.
'All payments are down. I can't draw any money out. It's an absolute nightmare. I'm meant to see clients in the morning and I can't call to cancel.'
She added: 'It's things like this that really put it into perspective for you. I've got no way of paying for anything, and it's really difficult to get something simple like a bottle of water.
'My flight is gone and there's no way I'm gonna be able to explain this, I can't even call back home.'
A number of flights have departed from Barcelona airport, but the roads surrounding the travel hub are chock full of traffic.
The airport is believed to be running on emergency power supplies. But hundreds of Brits are struggling to get out of the city.
Today, 15:42 By Allan Glen
Travellers urged to follow government and airline advice
Which? have issued advice for travellers who may have been affected by the Spain and Portugal power outages.
Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: 'The power outages in Spain and Portugal will have a significant knock on effect for those travelling to and from both countries.
'Crucially, follow the advice from local emergency services and government if you are already in Spain. Some municipalities have asked for people to stay at home.
'If you are due to travel today or tomorrow, check the advice from your airport or tour operator or airline apps and airport social media feeds for the most up to date advice."
Today, 15:40 By Allan Glen
France briefly lost power, says grid operator
Some areas in France temporarily lost power following the outages in Spain and Portugal, Reuters news agency reports, citing French grid operator RTE.
A spokeswoman for RTE gave no further detail on the extent of the outage, but says that power has now resumed after the brief interruption.
Today, 15:20 By Allan Glen
In pictures – latest images from Portugal
Here are some of the latest images coming in from Lisbon.
Today, 14:57 By Robin Perrie
'It's like being in a Netflix drama'
Portuguese musician Nuno Feist, 53, of Lisbon, told The Sun: "It's like the dark ages here, we don't have access to news, and we can't turn on the TV.
"It's like being in the Netflix drama Zero Day. We believe it is a cyber attack."
Today, 14:42 By Allan Glen
EU officials to assess cause of blackout
The European Commission has said it is "in contact" with Spanish and Portuguese authorities "to understand the underlying cause" of the massive blackout.
"The commission will keep monitoring the situation and make sure that there is smooth information exchange amongst all relevant parties," a spokesperson for the EU's executive arm said.
Electricity was cut off across Spain and Portugal, and briefly in part of southwestern France, in a blackout that impacted millions of people, grid operators said.
Antonio Costa, who heads the European Council of EU member states and a former Portuguese premier, is also in contact with the Spanish and Portuguese leaders, an EU official said
Today, 14:14 By Allan Glen
'Cyber attack most likely cause', says Spanish official
A cyber attack is the most likely cause of disruption to the power supply in Andalusia, according to an official in the regional government.
Juanma Moreno, president of the Andalusian government, told reporters that – based on their own data – "everything points to a cyber attack".
Spain's ministry of defence has not yet commented on the cause of the power outage.
Today, 14:08 By Allan Glen
Power outage – in pictures
Here are some of the latest images coming in from Lisbon following the power outage.
Today, 13:59 By Robin Perrie
'It's terrifying – nothing is working'
Brit Lottie Feist, 23, who is studying translation at university in Lisbon told The Sun: 'There is no electricity, nothing is working.
"The roads are absolute carnage as no traffic lights are working. All the power is down. It's terrifying, people will be stuck in elevators, and everything has completely shut down.
"Some people are saying it's a cyberattack and are pointing the finger at Russia.
"We have no idea what has caused it at this stage – and it appears the authorities don't seem to have any clue either.'
Today, 13:53 By Allan Glen
Restoring power could take 'up to 10 hours'
In a statement, Spain's Red Electrica, which is partly state-owned and operates the national electricity grid, said restoring power will "depend on factors, but simulations indicate it should take hours, perhaps six-10 hours".
Today, 13:31 By Allan Glen
Passengers jostle for space on buses in Lisbon after train service collapses
People have been seen squeezing on to buses after the power outage caused the train and Metro services to collapse.
There have also been reports of cash points in Lisbon being down, with card payments not being accepted due to the power outage.
Today, 13:17 By Allan Glen
Cash point queues in Lisbon as card payments down
There are reports of cash points in Lisbon being down, with card payments not being accepted due to the power outage.
"It's crazy, we were trying to pay for our brunch and it all shut down," Emily Lansdown, who's in the city, told the BBC. "We've been trying to get a taxi to the beach because all the trains are down."
Today, 13:15 By Allan Glen
'Massive loss in a few seconds'
This post is from Javier Blas at Bloomberg: "Data from Spain's national grid shows a lost of >10 GW of demand, from ~26GW to ~12GW in a few seconds. Reason unknonw."
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