Fatalities Reported as Massive Power Outage Cripples Spain and Portugal
At least three people have died in Spain following a massive power outage that plunged large parts of the country — and neighboring Portugal — into chaos on Monday, Spain’s Civil Guard has confirmed to the BBC.
The victims, a married couple and their adult son, were found dead in their beds in the northwestern municipality of Taboadela. Spanish media report that authorities are investigating whether carbon monoxide poisoning from a malfunctioning generator may have caused their deaths, though officials have yet to confirm this.
Other possible blackout-related fatalities are under investigation. In Madrid, a woman in her fifties died in a fire that broke out in the Carabanchel district. Local outlets suggest the blaze may have been sparked by a candle lit during the outage. Thirteen people were treated for smoke inhalation, five of whom required hospital care.
In Valencia, a woman with a pre-existing lung condition reportedly died after her ventilator lost power during the blackout. While police linked her death to the outage, regional health authorities have stated she had multiple health issues and likely died of natural causes.
Monday’s widespread power failure brought public transport systems, traffic signals, and card payment networks to a standstill. Queues formed at the few functioning ATMs, and mobile phone networks were temporarily knocked out, leaving residents without access to basic services and information.
The cause of the outage remains under investigation. The blackout also affected parts of France and Andorra.
