Major Power Outage Disrupts Life Across Spain, Portugal

A massive power outage struck Spain and Portugal on Monday, disrupting transportation, shutting down airports, subways, and ATMs, and plunging cities into chaos as traffic lights and mobile networks failed. The blackout, which also affected parts of France and Andorra, left people stranded in elevators, trains, and supermarkets, with emergency services urging residents to minimize travel. Authorities in both countries ruled out a cyberattack, with Portugal's grid operator suggesting a rare atmospheric phenomenon as a possible cause, though investigations continue. Power restoration began within hours, but the outage underscored the vulnerability of essential infrastructure, with panic buying reported as businesses were unable to process payments. The crisis prompted crisis meetings in both nations, while Spanish and Portuguese leaders advised caution and avoided speculation about the cause. Gibraltar, which is not connected to the European grid, was unaffected.