Spain declares state of emergency amid blackout
Photo: Spain has declared a state of emergency due to the blackout (Getty Images)
Spain’s Interior Ministry has declared a state of emergency in response to a massive power outage, according to Sky News.
The ministry stated that the state of emergency would be applied in regions that request it.
Currently, Madrid, Andalusia, and Extremadura have asked the central government to assume control over public order and other functions. Millions of people across Spain have been affected by the blackout, along with critical sectors such as transportation and telecommunications.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the outage was caused by "strong oscillation" in the power grid, although the exact cause remains unknown.
Blackout across Europe
On Monday, April 28, a number of European countries reported major power outages.
Power outages were observed in Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and parts of France. The reasons for the outage are currently unknown.
Portugal’s national electricity company REN suggested that a wildfire in southwestern France, near the Alaric mountain, may have damaged a high-voltage transmission line between Perpignan and eastern Narbonne, potentially causing the problem.
There were also reports that a cyberattack was being investigated as a possible cause. However, European Council President António Costa later dismissed that speculation.
According to media reports, it may take between six and ten hours to restore power in Spain.
For more detailed coverage of the European blackout, read the material by RBC-Ukraine.
We also showed how Spain and Portugal are coping with the blackout.
