Spain declares state of emergency as total blackout 

The country’s Interior Ministry confirmed the new development in a statement, adding that emergency status will be applied in regions that request it, amid fears the chaos could last for days.

The outage has sparked widespread confusion, prompting the Interior Ministry to deploy 30,000 police officers nationwide to maintain order during an evening of darkness.

Long queues formed outside shops and banks as residents and tourists scrambled to stock up on essentials and withdraw cash amid the uncertainty.

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Airports have also been affected, with numerous flight delays and cancellations. Portugal’s flagship airline, TAP Air, has advised holidaymakers not to travel until further notice.

Train and metro services were suspended in both Spain and Portugal, leaving passengers stranded in tunnels and on tracks, necessitating evacuations.

So far, Madrid, Andalusia, and Extremadura have requested the central government assume control over public order and related functions.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the cause of the unprecedented blackout remains unknown, but confirmed that power has been restored to approximately 60% of the country.

Portugal’s acting Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, said the country expects full restoration of power “within hours” — though it may take longer than in Spain, as Portugal relies solely on its own energy resources, unlike Spain, which receives power from France and Morocco.

In a national address, Sánchez said: “We do not yet have conclusive information on the reasons for this power cut, so I ask the public—as we have done in past crises—to stay informed through official channels.

“For now, there is no evidence of any civil protection issues. I repeat, there are no security concerns.