Power outage LIVE: Spain declares state of emergency as blackouts leave millions in dark

Spain declared a state of emergency after a that brought chaos to millions across the country.

The Spanish Interior Ministry confirmed that would apply to regions that request it, with Madrid, Andalusia, and Extremadura already asking for central government control over public order and key services.

The blackout, which struck earlier today, crippled transport networks, telecommunications, and essential services nationwide. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez blamed a "strong oscillation" in the grid for the collapse but admitted the exact cause is still unknown.

Under Spanish law, when multiple autonomous regions are overwhelmed, they can call for national intervention, and that's exactly what's happening now.

Grid operator Red Electrica has managed to restore some power, but warned that full recovery could take hours. Authorities are urging people to stay calm and limit travel as engineers scramble to repair the damage.

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