Europe’s Devastating Power Outage in Photos
Grounded subways, canceled flights, stores, hospitals, and offices completely in the dark: This is the situation following the vast blackout that hit Spain, Portugal, and some regions of southern France.
The power grid was sent down around noon local time on Monday, simultaneously blocking all public services in major Spanish cities. The restoration of the power supply is currently underway, with officials citing a rare atmospheric phenomenon as the cause.
Portuguese officials told national media that the blackout affected the entire territory. Reports of power outages have also come from citizens in Andorra and areas of France bordering Spain. The Spanish government met in Madrid to monitor the situation, while citizens did their best to adjust to a world without electricity. Below are glimpses of affected regions in the early hours of the outage.
- A man and a child walk through a local market during the major blackout that hit Vigo, northwest Spain, on Monday.
- A metro station went dark in Madrid during the vast blackout that hit Spain and Portugal.
- Customers at the market without electricity during the national blackout.
- Tennis fans navigate the aisles during the general blackout at a tennis tournament in Madrid.
- Without power, major shopping destinations closed their doors.
- Diners were left to fend for themselves during the blackout.
- People use their phone flashlights to walk the halls in the dark during a general blackout.
- A man with a flashlight shines light as a subway station lies in darkness due to a blackout.
- A café without lights in Toulouse during the blackout.
- A customer faces a non-functioning ATM due to blackout in Lisbon.
- Public transport, traffic lights, and telephone services went out of service in some areas of Madrid.
- Passengers stand next to a Renfe Ave high-speed train stopped near Cordoba during Monday's blackout.
- Employees stand inside a supermarket without lights in Burgos, northern Spain.
- A closed gym, also in Burgos.
- A sporting goods store clerk works with a light on her head in Burgos.
- Health care employees and patients made do with no power for hours.
This story originally appeared on WIRED Italia and has been translated from Italian.
wired
