A widespread power cut has plunged Spain and Portugal into chaos, affecting daily life and holiday plans across the Iberian Peninsula. In Benidorm, holidaymakers Mark England and Jonnie Smith described the scene as “bizarre” as most shops remained shuttered and traffic lights went out. England highlighted the difficulties in finding food or drinks, saying, “If you haven’t got a drink, you’re out of luck.”

The outage, which began around midday, also caused significant disruption to public transport. Passengers were evacuated from trains in Valencia, and metro stations in both Madrid and Lisbon were closed. With no cash machines or traffic lights, many struggled to make their way around.

Madrid’s mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, urged residents to stay put and minimize travel. He confirmed that certain highway tunnels were also closed, making movement even more difficult. The Spanish Prime Minister’s office has stated that efforts are underway to identify the cause of the outage and restore power, which could take up to 10 hours.

In addition to the power loss, mobile networks were affected, with people struggling to connect to the internet and relying on radio updates. Local businesses and restaurants were plunged into darkness, and some parts of France briefly experienced similar issues.

As the region works to restore power, authorities are urging people to stay safe and remain informed.