Massive power failure is paralyzed parts of Spain and Portugal

Unusual traffic lights, standing trains and an interrupted tennis tournament: a massive power failure hit the Iberian peninsula on Monday afternoon. Millions of people were largely parts Spain and Portugal on the mainland affected by the blackout. The good news: The supply has now been secured again in several areas in the north, south and west of the peninsula, reported the Spanish power grid operator Red Eléctrica on the platform X.

Regions such as Catalonia, Aragon, Basque Country, Galicia, Asturias, Navarra and Castile are therefore taken care of again. In addition, there are other areas in Madrid and Valencia. More than 20 percent of the electricity requirement on the peninsula has already been restored.

However, the complete restoration could still take. « We will experience a few critical hours until the power supply is restored, » said Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in a television speech after a meeting of the National Security Council.

EU President: No reference to cyber attack in the event of a power failure

In Germany, an extensive power failure, as in Spain and Portugal, cannot be feared, according to the Federal Network Agency. « A large, long -lasting blackout is unlikely in Germany, » said the authority in Bonn at the request of the German press agency with. The German power grid is designed. Specifically, this means that a line could always be canceled and a different line would step in.

The cause is sought on the Iberian Peninsula. Spain’s National Institute for Cyber ​​Security had loud El País communicated to investigate whether a hacker attack could be behind the power failure. According to EU Council President António Costa, there is currently no indication of a cyber attack. The EU Commission dealt with the large-scale power failure. « The Commission will continue to observe the situation and ensure that a smooth exchange of information takes place between everyone involved, » said the authority in Brussels.

People are saved from elevators – tennis tournament in Madrid is paused

Reporters from the German Press Agency reported both from Madrid and Barcelona that there was no electricity on Monday afternoon. The operation of the infrastructure and mobile communications as well as traffic are affected across the country, the Spanish newspaper wrote El País: Traffic lights and elevators at train stations, in airports and in other buildings have failed. People had to be saved from subway tunnels and elevators. According to Spain’s Ministry of Health, hospitals were not affected thanks to the use of generators.

Most shops and restaurants in Premi de Mar near Barcelona and other places Spain have one dpa-according to reporter closed. Businesses with perishable goods and ice cream parlors in particular were waiting for the restoration of the power supply. « We can stand it for a few hours, then the ice will be liquid, » said a seller in an ice cream parlor in Premi « de Mar.

The word « Luz », Spanish for electricity, is part of almost every entertainment of people on the street. Neighbors call the latest news and rumors from balcony to balcony.

« And how should I cook now, » asks a housewife in Premi de Mar. Although she and her husband have solar modules on the roof, this is not of use, because the system only works when the network is in operation. A neighbor invites everyone to cook with her – on her gas stove.

Due to the power failure, the Masters 1000 tennis tournament in Madrid had to be interrupted.

After a power failure in Portugal and Spain: trains stand, traffic lights are unusual

Traffic and transport on the southern European Peninsula was largely disturbed. According to the Spanish railway company Renfe, the « entire national power grid » had failed at 12.30 p.m. (local time) – the trains had stopped at all train stations and did not drive off. A resumption of middle and long-distance transport is currently not foreseeable, the Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente said on the platform X.

Spain’s airport operator Aena also reported “incidents” because of the blackout. Emergency generators are active. Passengers should contact their respective airline with questions, as there may be problems on their onward journey on the ground. TV images of the transmitter Rtve Stranded passengers, standing escalators and running tapes as well as down latters showed from the country’s large airports.

The Spanish newspaper El País According to the massive blackout, the massive blackout was limited to the mainland. Accordingly, reporters reported that the island groups belonging to the country are not affected by Canaric and Balearic Islands.

The neighboring country of Portugal also experienced a far -reaching blackout, from the north to the south of the country, the broadcaster reported RTP. Portugal’s Minister of Defense Nuno Melo called up the population to rest.

The power failure in Portugal was caused by a disorder in the Spanish power grid, which is due to a « rare atmospheric phenomenon », reported, among other things, the Portuguese transmitter RTP And the British broadcaster Sky News Citing the Portuguese power grid operator Ren. The company is gradually restored, whereby the safety and stability of the network have priority. The complete normalization of the network could take up to a week « due to the complexity of the phenomenon ».

France also affected by the power failure in the meantime

In the small state of Andorra in the Pyrenees, however, the power failure took only a few seconds, its energy supplier Feda reported to X. The failure was caused on the Spanish side and the electricity was immediately restored thanks to the « automatic re -connection with the line coming from France ».

France was also affected by the blackout in the meantime. The electricity network operator Rte wrote that households in the French part of the Basque Country were without electricity for a few minutes. However, the supply was restored. (By Jan-Uwe Ronneburger, Juliane Rodust and Philipp Znidar, dpa)