Flights were grounded, trains were evacuated, traffic lights were turned off.. Mobile phone networks were disrupted.. 2 countries were plunged into darkness.

Flights were grounded, trains were evacuated, traffic lights were turned off.. Mobile phone networks were disrupted.. 2 countries were plunged into darkness.

It has been more than two hours since a massive power outage hit various parts of Spain and Portugal.

The power outage began just after noon Spanish time and appears to have affected cities across the country, although it does not appear to have affected the Balearic and Canary Islands.

Mainland Portugal and Andorra experienced similar power outages. Public transport was disrupted, passengers were evacuated from trains, and traffic lights were also affected.

Many businesses, shops, and restaurants in Madrid were plunged into darkness. Internet service was also affected.

In some areas, trains were evacuated, traffic lights were turned off, and shops and restaurants were left in the dark. In Spain, the internet was also affected, with mobile phone networks reportedly down.

There are currently "some incidents" at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas International Airport in Madrid and Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport in Barcelona. The airports are warning that contingency generators are active and that there may be disruptions for travelers, affecting access and ground transportation.

Lisbon and Porto airports are also warning of possible “operational restrictions.” Airport operator Ana has activated emergency generators to continue essential operations in Porto and Faro, Portuguese news agency Lusa reports, but Lisbon faces more restrictions.

Looking at the departure boards, delays are being experienced at airports including Madrid, Barcelona, ​​and Porto.

Spanish grid operator Red Electrica said it would work with local energy companies to restore supply, but the head of Spain's electricity grid said it would take hours to restore power.

In Spain's capital, Madrid, Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida warned residents to stay where they are for now. He urged all Madrid residents to minimize their movements and, if possible, stay where they are. The Joaquín Sorolla railway station in Valencia, Spain, is packed with passengers stranded on trains due to a power outage.

Parts of France were also hit by power outages, but French grid operator RTE says the network is now operating normally. Local authorities say they are trying to find out how and why this happened.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's office said: "The government is working to identify the origins of this incident and is dedicating all possible resources to resolving it as quickly as possible."

Meanwhile, in Portugal, TAP Air Portugal has advised passengers not to travel to airports until further notice. The Portuguese power website is down. The Portuguese electricity distribution network, E-Redes, is working to restore power in stages. However, its website is down for "maintenance work."