The historic blackout in Spain and Portugal, and initially parts of France, began at 12.32pm yesterday. The lights went out, the Internet stopped functioning and the majority of us were left incommunicado as mobile calls and messaging went from intermittant to nothing at all.
The only source of information for most of us was a transister radio, for those lucky enough to have one, or the car radio.
Nexonr understands that for many of our readers who cannot understand Spanish the lack of information must have been confusing and traumatic and dramatic for others.
Today, Tuesday April 29, we would like to inform our readers that the Medical Centre and hospitals are functioning normally and that the electricity and communications systems are back. However, the Government asks us to use electricity, internet and communication systems such as mobiles, sparingly today in order to safeguard electricity supplies and to reduce movement outside the home to a minumum in order to reduce pressure on infrastructures and regional and state resources such as the police, fire brigades etc.
Yesterday traffic lights and motorway toll gates were affected leaving many trapped for hours in their cars and making driving extemely hazardous. Some 30,000 passengers were trapped in trains in locations miles from stations and 344 flights were cancelled with many pasengers forced to spend the night at the airports.
In the first hour the regional emergencies 112 received 400 calls. By 4.30pm this had risen to 900 and by the end of the day had reached 2,000 calls. The fire brigade carried out around 60 rescue operations.
The regional government asked the Government to establish a Level 3 Emergency in Murcia and asked for reinforcements of security forces and police in the streets in case the electricity was not reestablished before dark in order to avoid «potential incidents of insegurity.»
At 7.20pm the electricity suppplies in the Murcia region began to return, albeit it slowly. The regional government informed the Electricity Network that the priority was to reestablish supplies to OAPs and Disabled Persons Residences and hospitals and consequently the Arrixaca and the Reina Sofia had full electricitysupplies by 7.30pm. The Level 2 Emergency in the region was rescinded.
In Calasparra the effects of the blackout were described as «light» and no physical injuries or accidents have been reported.
Today all schools are open and staff are present although classes may be suspended.
The President of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, has made several appearances to keep the public informed, although these were only available on the radio throughout yesterday. This morning the King of Spain is presiding over the Government´s Emergency meeting to discuss the crisis.
As yet there is no explanation for the blackout which remains under investigation.
Photo by CalasparraAlDia
