Madrid Barajas Airport. Archive photo. Photo: Getty Images
Spain and Portugal are without power.
Spanish authorities began investigating whether a cyberattack is behind the outage, writes El Pais.
But now an “atmospheric weather phenomenon” is being pointed out as a potential cause.
– Nothing works. Shops and banks are closed, says Aftonbladet reporter Benjamin Ekroth, who is in Almeria, Spain.
At lunchtime on Monday, the power went out throughout Spanien and Portugal.
The
Spanish government is holding an emergency meeting at the headquarters
of the electricity company Red Electrica, to coordinate the handling of
the electricity crisis.
Among the participants are Prime Minister
Pedro Sanchez, Deputy Prime Minister María Jesús Montero and the
management of Red Electrica.
The extensive power outage affects up to 50 million people.
According to El Mundo, it may take until after midnight to restore electricity in the countries.
Spain's state cybersecurity company Incibe is now investigating whether the power outage was caused by a cyberattack.
However,
on Monday afternoon, Reuters reported that unusual temperature changes
may have been behind the power outage in Spain and Portugal. The changes
are said to have caused so-called "oscillations" in the high-voltage
lines.
The outage is causing chaos on the Iberian Peninsula.
Banks, payment systems in stores, traffic lights, refrigerators and
freezers, mobile networks, many of the systems critical to society are
down.
In Spanish cities, traffic police are being ordered into the cities to direct traffic. Experts: It will be knocked out only if the crisis comes
In Portugal, the police urge on Facebook.
“Slow down and increase your attention. Your calm saves lives. Respect the right-hand rule”.
The airport is paralyzed
Madrid's
international airport is without electricity, according to El Mundo.
The power outage also affects many telephone connections.
Work is underway to find the fault and restore the power.
– I was working, then everything disappeared, says Therese Holmström, 41, who lives in Barcelona.
Therese Holmström is sitting by the pool at home in Barcelona because she cannot work. Photo: Private
She does not seem to be suffering from the power outage yet, she is taking a break with her husband Jorge Venegas, 44.
– We are sitting and sunbathing by the pool instead. We work against Sweden, we have an accounting firm, says Holmström.
The Portuguese Publico also writes that large parts of Portugal are without electricity.
The infrastructure is down
Tunnels and mobile phone networks are down, and more.
–
I have to hang up, we have to get water while there is still pressure,
says Caroline Hesser who lives in Nazare in Portugal, when we reach her.
– All electricity is gone, it is clear that you are affected.
Aftonbladet reporter Benjamin Ekroth reports from Almeria, Spain, where society is paralyzed.
– Almeria is down, completely. Shops, banks, restaurants. Everything is dark and boarded up, says Ekroth.
1 / 2Photo: Adri Salido /Getty Images
The ATMs are dead
He
is talking to Llanos Perez Garzia and Antonio Cayuela Suarez who are
standing outside their pharmacy. They are just about to close.
–
This is very unusual. I have never experienced anything like this.
Nobody knows anything. Not even the journalists, says Llanos Perez
Garzia.
An elderly man with a battery-powered radio stands outside the pharmacy, listening for more information.
On
the street outside the bank, the screens of the ATMs are black. The
traffic lights have gone out, they don't even flash yellow.
There is still no information about the cause of the extensive power outage.
Shortly
after 1:30 p.m., the Spanish power company Red Electrica claims that
power is starting to be restored in southern and northern Spain.
Later, the company issues information that it may take until early Tuesday morning before power is fully restored.
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