At least three individuals have lost their lives in Spain following a massive power outage that occurred on Monday, as reported by the Civil Guard. The fatalities, which include members of the same family from Taboadela in the northwest, have raised concerns regarding the potential involvement of carbon monoxide from a malfunctioning electricity generator, although specifics remain unclear.
The victims, identified as a married couple and their adult son, were discovered in their beds by a care worker on Tuesday, according to the Madrid newspaper El Pais. Additional investigations are underway concerning other deaths related to the blackout, including an incident in Madrid where a woman in her fifties perished in a fire allegedly ignited by a candle used during the outage. This tragic incident occurred in the Carabanchel district, with thirteen individuals being treated for smoke inhalation, five of whom were hospitalized.
In Valencia, another report surfaced of a woman in her forties who died during the blackout, but conflicting reports surround the circumstances of her death. Local authorities believe the ventilator she relied on possibly lost power, contributing to her demise. Yet, health sources suggest her death might be attributed to pre-existing health issues.
The power cut resulted in widespread disruption across Spain and Portugal, with impacts felt as far as Andorra and parts of France. Traffic lights ceased operation, metro systems came to a standstill, and businesses were barred from processing card transactions, which led to long lines at operational cash machines. Initially, mobile networks faltered, leaving many in the dark and without vital information.
As authorities work to ascertain the cause of this massive blackout, they have ruled out any potential cyberattack, prompting speculation and concerns about the infrastructure's vulnerability. The situation remains fluid as residents and officials grapple with the aftermath of this unprecedented power failure.
