‘People were stunned’: how massive blackout unfolded across Spain and Portugal

The power outage struck Spain and Portugal midday, plunging the Iberian Peninsula into chaos as buses and trains ground to a halt, cash machines stopped, and people were stuck in unlit stations and streets. With no phone coverage or internet access, fear of further blackouts and potential war-like tensions spread, while Spanish authorities scrambled to restore power and cope with the aftermath. The event left thousands stranded, hospitals reliant on generators, and daily life disrupted by darkness and uncertainty.