Spain-Portugal blackouts latest: Head of Spain’s power grid refuses to resign as officials hunt for cause
Power has been restored to tens of millions but the cause of the power cut remains unknown
Spanish grid operator Red Electrica’s boss has said she is not considering resigning as the energy firm faces mounting pressure while officials hunt for the cause of the major power outage that hit Spain and Portugal on Monday.
Chairwoman Beatriz Corredor said it was incorrect to link the massive blackout that hit the countries to the high share of renewable energy in the country’s total generation.
“I am not contemplating resignation”, she told radio station Cadena SER.
The firm posted on social media in praise of their response to the blackout that hit Europe at 12.30pm earlier this week, which brought transport to a standstill, wiped out mobile network and Wi-Fi coverage and water access for some.
“In less than 24 hours, they have turned around an unprecedented situation thanks to their dedication and professionalism.We continue working with the same vocation of service.”
This comes as Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez met with grid operators asking for their co-operation in finding the cause, he said: “We must undertake the necessary improvements to guarantee the supply and future competitiveness of our system.”
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Portuguese residents invest in battery-powered radios following blackout
We’re hearing reports from people living in Portugal who are buying battery-powered radios after a blackout rendered them unable to communicate or receive news via the internet or phone signal.
Mobile phone networks and Wi-Fi providers were hit by the power outage across Spain and Portugal meaning citizens were unable to access information.
Gui Bonito, who lives in Lisbon, told The Independent: “It was mostly chaotic because no one was able to contact anyone and unless we had a radio that ran on batteries, we couldn’t get the news.”
He said he already knew people who had gone and bought battery-powered radios following the blackout.
“I realised that we are 100 per cent dependent on technology, as soon as the electricity failed we were unable to contact anyone because the network went down.
“We were unable to cook because the stove is electric, and we were unable to shower or have water because the building supplies water on electric pumps.”
While technology may have been down, Gui said he saw the local community come together.
“I saw several neighbours knocking on doors making sure everyone was okay and everyone had lights and candles.
“In a weird sense, the blackout seems to also have brought people together.”
Police investigate death of family of three related to the blackouts
Police in Galicia are investigating the death of three people in the town of Taboadela as the first fatalities of the blackout emerge.
A spokeswoman said the bodies of “a couple and their son” were discovered in their home on Tuesday morning as power was restored to the area, according to reports.
Officers and forensic experts are investigating whether the family, who reportedly inhaled carbon monoxide, died as a result of a malfunctioning domestic generator or a fuel appliance.
Spanish power firm backtracks blame on renewable energy
Spanish grid operator Red Electrica's chairwoman Beatriz Corredor has said it was not correct to link the massive blackout that hit Spain and Portugal on Monday to the high share of renewable energy in the country's total generation.
She is not considering resigning, she added in an interview with radio station Cadena SER.
Spain's national security council holds 'extraordinary' meeting following blackouts
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez chaired a meeting of the National Security Council to analyse the evolving energy situation following power outages across the country.
Recap: Inside 12 hours of chaos in Spain during an unprecedented power blackout
From people being unable to withdraw money or fill up with petrol, to those hit by train and flight cancellations, Alicia Fabregas reported from Barcelona on the impact of Spain’s mass power cut.
Inside 12 hours of chaos in Spain during an unprecedented power blackout
Pictured: The electrical sub-station at the interconnection grid between France and Spain that tripped after a sudden, large drop in power supply
The Santa Llogaia electrical sub-station, connected to the interconnection grid between France and Spain, tripped after a sudden, large drop in power supply and caused a major blackout.
EU to investigate blackout in Spain and Portugal
The EU will begin a thorough investigation of the blackout in Spain and Portugal, EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen has said.
It comes after the Portuguese prime minister called on the EU’s Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators to perform an independent audit of the outage.
Madrid marathon runner calls blackout 'apocalyptic experience'
When Georgina Ragan went to Madrid to run the marathon on Sunday wit her friend, she couldn’t have imagined that the next day the city would be plunged into chaos due to the blackout.
She told The Independent: “We went for a walk around the city before heading to the airport for our flights and started to pick up on warning signs... the lifts in the buildings weren't working and all their restaurants had their lights off and were not serving food at 12:30 yet nobody said anything.
“We wandered around and finally realised the power outage and severity when we tried to purchase food and drinks.. we had no cash and nowhere was able to accept card. Our phones cut out and we had already checked out of our hotel and were left stranded with no money and no contact to anyone.
“Luckily our hotel made ham sandwiches and took passport info and served water. We grouped up with more British travellers and tried to make the situation as lighthearted as possible.”
She said that when they first got power at 10pm, everyone cheered and they were very slowly able to charge their phones.
She called it an “apocalyptic experience. A lesson that everyone should still carry cash and battery packs”, adding it was “not an ideal finish to a marathon.”
In pictures: Passengers waiting for their trains in Madrid after the blackout
Railway services are back to normal following blackout
Spain’s railway network is back to normal following the blackout’s travel chaos.
The ministry of transport reported there was “general normality in the network, stations and services.”
High speed rail is experiencing normal operation on all lines and services have been restored across the entire network for conventional medium and long distance transport.
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