MADRID (Dispatches) -- A massive power outage on Monday plunged much of Spain, Portugal, France, and even Andorra into darkness, causing widespread disruption. 
The blackout brought railway services and airport operations to a standstill, with underground metro services halted and major stations evacuated. 
Traffic lights across affected regions are not functioning, creating chaos in urban centers like Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.
The causes of the grid failure remain unclear, and authorities are urging residents to remain calm.
In Spain, regions such as Ceuta, Melilla, and the Canary Islands were en spared due to their independent power networks, but mainland cities and entire communities, including Murcia and Castilla-Leon, remained without electricity. 
Airports like Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas International suspended operations, with telecommunications also affected. Initial reports suggested the blackout may be linked to a fire in southwestern France damaging a high-voltage line or a possible issue with the European electricity grid. 
However, the Spanish National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) has not ruled out the possibility of a cyberattack, though no direct evidence has been found.
An emergency meeting was convened by the Spanish government to address the crisis, as thousands turned to social media for updates amid the lack of information. 
The blackout also reportedly affected parts of Belgium, further highlighting the potential scale of the disruption.
Reports indicated that the outage began around midday, affecting transportation, businesses, and essential services. 
The massive power outage also disrupted mobile phone networks, leaving many struggling to connect. People in Madrid and Barcelona took to the streets, holding their smartphones in the air in an attempt to find a signal. With network connectivity limited, many 

turned to radios instead of their phones to stay informed.
In Madrid, restaurants and shops were plunged into darkness, and internet services were disrupted. Public transport was severely impacted, with passengers evacuated from metro systems and trains. Traffic lights stopped functioning, increasing chaos on the streets. 
Similar disruptions were reported in Lisbon and Porto, where metro systems were shut down entirely, and train services were halted. Hospitals in both Spain and Portugal were not spared, with Madrid’s La Paz Hospital and several Portuguese medical facilities forced to cancel surgeries. 
Meanwhile, Madrid Open tennis tournament play was suspended, as power outages rendered scoreboards and cameras inoperable. Spectators were seen leaving the venue under a veil of darkness.
Portuguese police confirmed that the blackout disrupted traffic lights and public transportation countrywide. In Lisbon, metro stations were shuttered, and trains were brought to a standstill. Madrid’s Barajas International Airport and other airports in the Iberian Peninsula experienced similar disruptions.
TAP Air Portugal issued a warning to passengers, urging them to refrain from travelling to airports until further notice. In a statement shared on its Facebook page, the airline announced that some services were currently disrupted and requested passengers to wait for further updates.