Spain declares state of emergency amid nationwide power blackout

The Spanish Interior Ministry on Monday declared a state of emergency after a nationwide power blackout affected most of the Iberian Peninsula.

In a statement, the ministry said the emergency status would be applied in the regions that requested it.

Thus far, Madrid, Andalusia, and Extremadura have reportedly asked the central government to assume control of public order and other functions.

DAILY POST reports that a massive power outage brought parts of Spain and Portugal to a standstill on Monday, grounding planes, halting public transport, causing panic buying, and leaving the two countries scrambling to restore power to millions of homes and businesses.

Some hospitals were said to have suspended routine operations, while some shops closed their doors.

“We do not yet have conclusive information on the reasons for this (power) cut, so I ask the people, as we have done in past crises, to inform themselves through official channels.

“For the time being, there’s no evidence of any civil protection problems. I repeat, there are no problems of insecurity,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a national address.

Spain declares state of emergency amid nationwide power blackout