Spain declared a state of emergency on Monday after a massive power outage plunged the entire Iberian Peninsula into darkness. Authorities are still investigating the cause.
The blackout, which struck Spain and Portugal around midday and briefly affected parts of France, left millions without electricity, paralyzed public transport, and delayed flights.
In a televised address, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the Ministry of the Interior would assume control over the situation in Madrid, Andalusia and Extremadura, ensuring public order and other functions at the request of regional leaders.
The measure would be extended “to the regions that want it,” Sanchez added, adding “We are aware of the impact this [power outage] is having.”
The Level 3 National Emergency Plan allows for the army to be deployed to preserve order and security wherever it is declared in effect. Sanchez stressed there was “no security problem,” saying State Security Forces had stepped up their presence on the streets and highways.
The Interior Ministry said about 30,000 police officers had been deployed nationwide as the blackout stretched into the evening.
The announcement came as grid operator Red Electrica (REE) said electricity had been restored in parts of Catalonia, Aragon, the Basque Country and Andalusia, and it was working to identify the cause of the outage.
Earlier, Portugal’s grid operator Redes Energeticas Nacionais (REN) said a “rare atmospheric phenomenon” over Spain, triggered by “extreme temperature variations,” may have caused the blackout.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro later said authorities still did not know what caused the outage, but that it “did not originate in Portugal” and “everything indicates” the problem started in Spain.
Spanish officials have yet to confirm the cause. Addressing the uncertainty, Sanchez said there was no conclusive information and urged the public to avoid speculation.
REN said it had restored power to about 750,000 of its 6.5 million consumers by Monday evening.
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