Massive blackout in Spain and Portugal: millions without electricity, communication, and bank cards

An unprecedented blackout hit the Iberian Peninsula: millions of Spaniards and Portuguese left without power

Madrid / Lisbon.

A catastrophic power outage has paralyzed life in Spain and Portugal, affecting tens of millions of residents. The sudden collapse of the energy system has led to the shutdown of critical infrastructure: hospitals, train stations and airports are without power, banking terminals have failed, and traffic on the streets has turned into chaotic congestion due to darkened traffic lights.

Capitals and major cities found themselves at the epicenter of the crisis. In Madrid and Lisbon, the population faced an acute shortage of essential goods. A particularly alarming situation has developed in the pharmacy network, where the shutdown of refrigeration units has threatened the preservation of vital medicines and vaccines. Pharmacists anxiously calculate potential losses.

"Our electricity went out. Refrigerators aren't working, medication dispensing robots have stopped. We're trying to sell what's left, but we've suffered serious losses," said an employee of one of Madrid's pharmacies.

Panic has gripped the population – those with cash are storming supermarkets, buying up food and drinking water. By noon, the shelves of many stores were empty. Fuel pumps at gas stations are inactive, laundromats are closed, and mobile communications are experiencing serious disruptions.

"Chaos reigns in the streets. There's no bread, almost no water left. We're buying everything we can still manage to get," shared one of the residents.

The authorities of both countries have convened emergency meetings and formed anti-