Massive power failure: chaos in Spain and Portugal! This is how they react!

Massive power failure: chaos in Spain and Portugal! This is how they react!

On Monday afternoon at 12.30 p.m., the Spanish energy supplier Endesa reported a massive power failure that hit Spain, but also Portugal, Andorra and neighboring regions in France. The exact cause of the power failure is currently unknown, but both Spanish and Portuguese government agencies examine the incident intensively. There is speculation that consider a possible cyber attack as a trigger, which is checked by the National Cyber ​​Security Authority Incibe. These events lead to a disturbing location that affects the infrastructures in both countries.

The consequences of the power failure are far -reaching. In many areas, the failure only took a few minutes, but the effects are still clearly noticeable. Users on social media report massive problems that range from unusual power lines to disorders on the Internet and the 5 G networks. Madrid-Barajas Airport, which belongs to the central contact point for international travelers and was temporarily without electricity, is also particularly affected. ATMs could not be used in Portugal, which complicated the situation for many travelers.

traffic and infrastructure significantly impaired

The power failure had serious effects on traffic. In Madrid, for example, there were massive traffic jams due to unusual traffic lights, while parts of the subway had to be evacuated. The Spanish railway company Renfe also reported a total failure of the national power grid, which is why there were many trains at train stations. Metro also no longer drove in Lisbon, four trains had to be evacuated. Those affected were active on the affected lines of the Greens and Red Metro.

In Portugal, the airport operator Ana became active and provided emergency power units to maintain the operation at the airports in postage and Faro. In Lisbon, on the other hand, there were major restrictions, and reports on chaotic conditions, including dark areas, increased. The massive impairment of the communication infrastructure concerned thousands of citizens and led to difficulties in the entire country.

government and experts react

In order to determine the causes of this unexpected incident, teams from various ministries of the Spanish and Portuguese governments have ordered technical studies. Red Eléctrica Española, the state companies for network connections in Spain, has taken emergency measures since the beginning of the disorder to restore the power supply as soon as possible. Thanks to their generators, hospitals are not affected by the power failures.

The situation not only has an immediate effect on the affected citizens, but also raises questions about the resilience of the infrastructural systems in Europe. The discussion about the safety of these systems is reinforced by the continuous geopolitical tensions in Europe, in particular through the attacks on the Ukrainian energy network and the dependence of many European countries on external electricity deliveries. According to n-tv.de , the probability of large-scale blackouts could increase through external factors in the coming cold months.

The current incident in Spain and Portugal shows the vulnerability of modern power supply systems worldwide and could be understood as a warning signal. How the authorities react to this will be crucial for the trust of the population in the infrastructure and for their future security.