A massive electrical failure affects Spain and Portugal with an impact on many sectors. “Metro, train … Everything is stopped” following a huge electrical failure that affects Spain and Portugal: can there be an impact in Belgium?
Spain and Portugal were affected around 12:30 p.m. (Belgian time) by a massive electrical failure. Airports, hospitals, shopping centers, public transport services, mobile connections or automobile traffic services are impacted, report several Spanish media. The Spanish and Portuguese governments have announced to investigate the causes of this general power cut. The failure has also briefly struck part of the southwest of France.
“General power cut“, we alert Felipe from Spain via the orange button alert us.”Metro, train … everything is stopped and in the dark“, He said.
Electric consumption in Spain fell in a few seconds from almost 25,000 Megawatts (MW) at less than 12,500, it comes from data shared by the manager of the Spanish electrical network Red Eléctrica. The Spanish Canary and Balearic Islands are however not affected.
If hospitals work properly thanks to rescue generators, many services have been affected by this breakdown, such as public transport (metro, train), car traffic services or mobile telephone lines. The Centers of Seville, Barcelona, Madrid and Pamplon have notably been immersed in the dark. Lisbon and Madrid airports (Barajas) are also particularly affected.
Between 6 and 10 a.m. to restore
Red Eléctricrica urgently conducts work to restore the current and discern the origin of the failure. The EDP electric company confirmed the general failure in Portugal and indicated working to restore the current.
The Spanish Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) launched an investigation to verify if it is a cyber attack, without however indicating whether this track is actually privileged.
The manager of the Spanish electrical network Red Eléctrica estimates that it will take between six and 10 hours. This is the most important failure of the country’s history.
No impact in Belgium
“There is no impact on the Belgian network. Everything is under control“, Elia’s manager of the Belgian electricity network said a spokesperson for Elia.
Spain Portugal Electricity power outage
