'EVERYTHING on pause': Videos capture tourists trapped at train stations after massive power outage hits Spain and Portugal

A massive power outage swept across Spain, Portugal, and parts of France on Monday, leaving large areas without electricity and causing widespread disruption. The blackout affected homes, businesses, telecommunications, and transportation services.

According to a Reuters report, Spanish power distributor Red Electrica warned that it could take between 6 to 10 hours to fully restore power across large parts of Spain.

Amid the chaos, Evan Beckerman, co-founder of an automotive parts retailer, shared his experience while stuck at a train station. He posted a video on his Instagram with the caption, “Total power outage across Spain and Portugal… Currently waiting for a train to Valencia but EVERYTHING on pause… Now we wait.”

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The footage reflected the widespread disruption at transportation hubs, showing an overcrowded train station with passengers standing around with their luggage.

The blackout also caused disruptions to mobile networks in Spain and Portugal. Madrid's Barajas International Airport was among the major airports affected, with several airports across the region halting operations temporarily.

Public transport services were severely impacted. According to Euronews Portugal, trains were stranded in tunnels between stations, leaving passengers trapped inside metros in Lisbon and Madrid.

Portuguese police confirmed that train services were suspended, metro operations in Porto and Lisbon were shut down, and traffic signals were down across the country, as reported by Reuters.

As the situation worsened, Euronews Spain reported that the Spanish government convened an emergency meeting at Moncloa Palace to monitor the developments and manage the response.

The effects of the blackout stretched beyond Spain and Portugal, reaching residents in Andorra and parts of southern France near the Spanish border. There were also reports of disruptions in Belgium, raising concerns about the stability of Europe’s electrical grid.

Inputs from agencies