Spain's PM Pedro Sánchez "does not rule out any hypothesis" to cause of power outage

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the nation amid a massive power outage at 6:00 pm at the La Moncloa, the Spanish government's headquarters, on Monday.

He said that, himself nor the government, "does not rule out any hypothesis," as there "is no conclusive information of the causes of this power outage," he told in a televised statement almost six hours after the electrical cut started.

"It is better not to speculate," he added.

During his speech, Sánchez said that there are still "critical hours" ahead for telecommunications and said that they are working to recover service "soon."

Sánchez informed that the National Security cabinet approved the Level 3 of emergency in the regions of Madrid, Extremadura, and Andalusia, as regional governments had requested it.

Level 3 of emergency means that the Spanish cabinet is taking over civil powers to manage the region.

France and Morocco

The Spanish government said that all territories affected in Spain are slowly recovering electricity, specially in the south and in the north. Sánchez thanked Morocco and France for "their solidarity."

The cabinet is reactivating energy producers and hydroelectrical plants, which would "help to recover power across Spain soon." 

Security

Pedro Sánchez said that they have strengthen security forces across Spain, and at the time of the speech, at 6 pm, there had not been any civil protection issues nor any lack of security reports.

To "guarantee security and a proper work," the cabinet also reduced by 20% aerial transport. Many travelers have experienced issues with canceled and delayed flights. Ship cargo continues to operate without any issues.

 

 

Batteries and analog radios

Aside from the situation on roads, hospitals, and nuclear facilities, many stores are also experiencing power outages.

In a Pyrenean store in the town of Sort, they registered a sudden increase in sales of analog radios, candles, and solar-powered batteries.

In less than an hour since the power outage took place, all radios had been sold out, Yeyxin, in charge of a dime store in the municipality, explains to the Catalan News Agency.