Power Grid Collapse Sparks Chaos 

A historic blackout plunged Spain and Portugal into chaos on Monday, cutting electricity to millions and disrupting daily life across the Iberian Peninsula. The outage began at 12:33 p.m. local time, with Spain's power demand dropping 60% in five seconds – equivalent to losing 15 gigawatts instantly.
Transport Meltdown & Urban Standstill 

Trains halted mid-journey, airports faced delays, and cities like Madrid and Lisbon reported full outages. Residents scrambled as traffic lights died, elevators stalled, and social media buzzed with #Blackout2023 posts. Authorities called it a 'rare systemic failure,' stressing no evidence of sabotage.
What Went Wrong? 

While investigations are ongoing, experts suggest extreme heatwaves and surging AC usage may have overloaded the grid. Analysts note this outage – affecting two nations simultaneously – highlights vulnerabilities in interconnected energy systems. Could this be Europe’s wake-up call for infrastructure upgrades?
Reference(s):
cgtn.com