Latest news with #EuronewsPortugal
Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Indian Express
Trains grind to halt, flights delayed amid Spain-Portugal power outage, US man captures chaos in viral video
A massive power outage brought Spain and Portugal to a standstill on Monday, throwing daily life across the Iberian Peninsula into chaos. Public transportation, including metro rail and trains, came to a halt, traffic signals failed, airports faced serious delays, and even ATMs and mobile services went down. Parts of southern France also briefly felt the impact. The outage, which began around 12.30 pm local time, affected cities big and small across the peninsula. The Barajas airport in Spanish capital Madrid, and the El Prat airport in Barcelona had to switch to backup power, delaying flights throughout the afternoon. Among those caught in the disruption was Evan Beckerman, co-founder of an automotive parts retailer, who shared his experience on Instagram. Posting a video from a crowded train station, he wrote, 'Total power outage across Spain and Portugal… Currently waiting for a train to Valencia but EVERYTHING on pause… Now we wait.' His footage captured scenes of confusion as passengers with their luggage stood around, waiting for updates. Watch the video: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Evan Beckerman (@evanbeckerman) The blackout disrupted mobile networks in Spain and Portugal, making communication difficult and adding to the disorder. Train services were thrown into disarray. As reported by Euronews Portugal, some trains were stranded mid-tunnel between stations, leaving passengers trapped underground in Lisbon and Madrid. Portuguese police later confirmed that metro rail services in Lisbon and Porto had been suspended, while traffic lights across the country stopped working, creating widespread traffic jams, according to Reuters. In response to the growing crisis, the Spanish government convened an emergency meeting at Moncloa Palace to monitor the unfolding situation, Euronews Spain reported. The effects were not confined to Spain and Portugal. Nearby Andorra and regions of southern France also experienced outages, and there were even reports of brief disruptions reaching as far as Belgium. The incident raised fresh alarms about the vulnerability of Europe's interconnected power grids. Social media quickly lit up with memes and jokes about the blackout as users found humour amid the frustration. Everyone from Spain and Portugal coming to 𝕏 to confirm the blackout — Venus 🌕 (@invincible39) April 28, 2025 no electricity in portugal and spain and my phone is about to die. goodbye world — freda (@goldenfools) April 28, 2025 Power outage cuts off Coco Gauff mid sentence too. The nerve 😮😬 — AMB (@AnnemarieBatson) April 28, 2025 Sporting events were not spared either. At the Madrid Open tennis tournament, a match between 15th seed Grigor Dimitrov and Britain's Jacob Fearnley had to be paused when scoreboards went dark and cameras lost power. Meanwhile, Cadena SER Radio reported that sections of Madrid's underground metro rail were evacuated, and traffic gridlock worsened due to the loss of traffic signals. The exact cause of the power outage is unclear and still a subject of investigation. Early reports suggest a problem with the electricity connection between France and Spain could be one of the contributing factors to the outage, a representative of an industry body that represents Europe's power sector said.
Times of Oman
29-04-2025
- Climate
- Times of Oman
Spain, Portugal declare emergency after 12-hour power outage
Madrid: A massive and unexplained 12-hour power outage has plunged Spain and Portugal into chaos, disrupting traffic, airports, and daily life, prompting both countries to declare a state of emergency, CNN reported. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that almost 50 per cent of Spain's electricity supply has been restored after Monday's massive power outage. The cause of the outage is still unknown, but it's believed to have occurred when 15 gigawatts of power were lost suddenly, according to Sanchez. "This is something that has never happened before," he said. "To give you an idea, 15 gigawatts is equivalent to approximately 60 per cent of the country's demand at that time." According to CNN, Spain will try to restore electricity nationwide by Tuesday morning, but the prime minister acknowledged that officials still can't say with certainty when things will return to normal. "The situation is very asymmetrical across the country. Some autonomous communities have already recovered up to 97 per cent of their supply, while others, unfortunately, are below 15 per cent," he said. Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlask declared a state of emergency in several regions, including Andalusia, Extremadura, Murcia, La Rioja, and Madrid. Meanwhile, Portugal's Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, announced a crisis due to the energy emergency. "We have learnt of a general blackout in the electricity grid, which originated outside our territory, most probably in Spain," Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said in a televised address. The Portuguese government has set up a crisis office to manage the "unprecedented" situation and has urged citizens to reduce their energy consumption while authorities work to fully restore power, as per CNN. Earlier, due to power outage, several passengers have been left stranded in the metros in the capitals of Spain and Portugal, with trains stuck in the tunnels between stations, Euronews Portugal reported.
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
‘Absolute pandemonium': Tourists stranded at train stations as massive power outage hits Spain, Portugal
A massive power outage swept across Spain, Portugal, and parts of France on Monday, leaving large areas without electricity. The disruption caused widespread issues with the electrical grid, affecting homes, businesses, telecommunications, and transportation services. Also read: What caused massive power outage in Spain, Portugal and parts of France? Here's what officials say Amid the chaos, Evan Beckerman, co-founder of an automotive parts retailer, shared his experience while being stuck at a train station. A video was posted on his Instagram handle with the caption, 'Total power outage across Spain and Portugal… Currently waiting for a train to Valencia but EVERYTHING on pause… Now we wait.' The footage reflected the widespread disruption and confusion at transportation hubs. The video showed an overcrowded train station, with passengers standing around with their luggage as he panned the camera across the scene. A post shared by Evan Beckerman (@evanbeckerman) The blackout also disrupted mobile networks in Spain and Portugal, adding to the chaos. Madrid's Barajas International Airport was among the major hubs affected, with several airports across the region halting operations temporarily. Public transport services were severely impacted. According to Euronews Portugal, trains became stranded in tunnels between stations, leaving many passengers trapped inside metros in Lisbon and Madrid. Portuguese police confirmed that train services were suspended, metro operations in Porto and Lisbon were shut down, and traffic signals were down across the country, Reuters reported. As the situation worsened, Euronews Spain reported that the Spanish government convened an emergency meeting at Moncloa Palace to monitor the developments and manage the response. The blackout's effects stretched beyond Spain and Portugal, hitting residents in Andorra and parts of southern France near the Spanish border. Reports also indicated disruptions in Belgium, raising fresh concerns about the overall stability of Europe's electrical grid. Also read: 'Don't ask for discount': Istanbul shop's signboard for Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis
Times of Oman
28-04-2025
- Times of Oman
Spain, Portugal hit by massive power outage, millions left without electricity
Madrid [Spain]: Spain and Portugal have been hit by power outage on Monday, leaving millions of people without electricity. Reports indicate issues with the European electric grid, Euro News reported. Official sources in Portugal told domestic media that the outage was nationwide, while similar reports have emerged from Spain. Barajas international airport in Madrid was left without power while telecommunications have also been impacted. Other airports in the region have also come ot a standstill. Several passengers have been left stranded in the metros in the capitals of Spain and Portugal, with trains stuck in the tunnels between stations, Euronews Portugal reported. The Spanish government has gathered for an emergency session at Moncloa and is monitoring the situation, Euronews Spain reported. Citizens of Andorra and areas of France bordering Spain were reporting being hit by the blackout. According to the latest information, outages have been reported as far as Belgium. The cause of the power outage is not clear yet. Domestic media have reported issues with the European electric grid, which impacted national grids in the Iberian Peninsula, Euro News reported. However, a fire in the south-west of France, on the Alaric mountain, which damaged a high-voltage power line between Perpignan and eastern Narbonne, is also considered a possible cause for the outage.
