Spainand Portugal have been hit by widespread blackouts, with millions plunged into darkness amid scenes of mayhem across major European cities.
All ofValenciaand Barcelona were left without power, Spain's entire rail network shut down, internet services stopped working and there was chaos on the streets as traffic built up in Madrid and Lisbon.
Airports were also affected, with emergency generators turned on at Porto and Faro airport, but Lisbon Airport is closed to inbound flights, which may mean your flight is cancelled or your airline reroutes you to another airport.
96 flights departing Portuguese airports have been cancelled so far, with the worst affected being Lisbon, with 29.63% departures cancelled, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Nine flights from the UK to Portugal have also been cancelled.
TAP Air Portugal has urged those due to fly to avoid the airport until further notice.
A statement on Facebook from the Portugese airline reads: 'Due to the power cut in several European countries, the operation of airports is temporarily very limited.
'TAP requests that you do not go to the airport until further information.'
Huge crowds were seen gathering outside Lisbon airport as the power outages hit
TAP Air Portugal has urged those due to fly to avoid the airport until further notice
Vueling says: 'We are working to minimize the impact on our operations due to the power outage in Spain and other markets. Some of our flights may be affected'
Meanwhile, Spanish news outlet ABC reports that air traffic in Spain is operating at 'half capacity'.
Cirium says 45 flights departing Spanish airports have been cancelled so far, with the worst affected being Barcelona and Madrid with 2.98% and 2.56% of departures cancelled, respectively.
Zero flights from the UK to Spain have been cancelled so far.
Spanish airlines Vueling and Iberia have also released statements for passengers due to fly with them today - and remained more optimistic.
Vueling says: 'We are working to minimize the impact on our operations due to the power outage in Spain and other markets. Some of our flights may be affected.
'You can check the status of your flight here.
'We continue to monitor the situation.'
Iberia says: 'Despite the widespread power outage in Spain and other European countries, Iberia's systems are operating at 100%.
Pictures show people being evacuated from trains in Spain down tunnels amid the outage
Pictures on social media show power outages at train stations
Iberia says: 'Despite the widespread power outage in Spain and other European countries, Iberia's systems are operating at 100%'
'However, given the difficulties at several airports, we are offering all passengers with flights scheduled for today the option to reschedule their trip.
'We ask all passengers to monitor our alerts in case problems persist and we are forced to modify our schedule.'
Ryanair has also said the company is keeping a close eye on the ongoing situation.
A statement from the airline reads: ‘We are monitoring potential disruption to flights operating to/from all airports in Spain and Portugal.
‘We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of this power outage, which is outside of our control.’
Which? has also issued advice for travellers who may have been affected by the Spain and Portugal power outages.
Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel says: 'The power outages in Spain and Portugal will have a significant knock on effect for those travelling to and from both countries.
'Crucially, follow the advice from local emergency services and government if you are already in Spain. Some municipalities have asked for people to stay at home.
Video showed travellers queuing at a station in Spain amid the power outage
'If you are due to travel today or tomorrow, check the advice from your airport or tour operator or airline apps and airport social media feeds for the most up to date advice.
'Airlines must look after passengers when flights are cancelled, whatever the reason for the cancellation.
'That means putting you on an alternate flight to get you to your destination, if needed, or you can accept a refund. You are almost certainly better off insisting on rerouting if you still intended to travel, as flights will be expensive.
'Airlines will struggle to meet these requirements during the current situation. But if you are stuck because your flight has been cancelled or delayed and need to buy a meal, or need a hotel overnight make sure you keep the receipts as you will be able to claim this back from the airline.
'If your flight or holiday is several days or weeks away, the best advice is to not cancel as you will lose money and won’t be able to claim via travel insurance.'
Madrid's Mayor has urged people to stay where they are as they deal with the incident, while the president of the city's regional government has called for Spain's prime minister to activate an emergency plan so soldiers can be deployed.
Videos online show railway networks in Spanish cities plunged into chaos, with people being evacuated through tunnels as blackouts hit underground stations and halted trains.
Parts of Francealso lost power after the outages in Spain and Portugal, the country's grid operator confirmed.Further outages have been reported as far as Belgium, according to the latest information.
The outage is reported to have forced the closure of tram systems in Spain
A view shows a closed metro station following a power outage in Lisbon
The cause of the outages is not yet clear, with the Spanish government saying it is working to 'identify the origin'.
A fireon the Alaric mountain in the south-west of France which damaged a high-voltage power line has also been identified as a possible cause, Portugal's national electric company REN said.
A director at Spain's electricity grid operator said just before 3pm local time that the outage is 'exceptional and totally extraordinary' and will take between six and 10 hours to repair.
Airports were also affected, with emergency generators turned on at Porto and Faro airport, but operations 'limited' at Lisbon, according to officials.
Parts of Madrid's sprawling metro system have been evacuated and traffic lights in the capital have stopped working, posing risk on major carriageways.
The outage is also said to have forced the closure of Barcelona's tram system and stopped some traffic lights in the city from working.
Internet and telephone lines across the country are also down.
Meanwhile play has been suspended at the Madrid Open tennis tournament.
Pictures from Lisbon's metro system show travellers attempting to use their phones and staff with torches
A view shows a dark metro station in Madrid during a widespread power outage that struck Spain and Portugal
'A crisis committee has been set up to manage the situation [in Spain]. At this stage there's no evidence yet regarding the cause of the massive blackout,' an official briefed on the situation in Spain told Politico.
'A cyberattack has not been ruled out and investigations are ongoing,' they added.
Spain's INCIBE cybersecurity agency is investigating the possibility of the blackout being triggered by a cyber attack.
The country's government said it is working to 'identify the origin' of the blackouts, with officials saying they are still gathering evidence.
Backup generators have meant Spain's hospitals have been spared the worst of the power outages.
Some have suspended non-emergency surgeries, however emergency power supplies have kept essential equipment such as ventilators and cardiac monitors running.
A British expat living in Barcelona told MailOnlinethat 'nobody seems to know what's going on' in Spain 'because nobody has signal'.
The English teacher said he only found out about the European blackout from British reports.
Tennis fans are seen after matches were suspended at the Madrid Open due to a power outage
A worker tries unsuccessfully to use her mobile outside a shop after a blackout hit Madrid
A cook at a takeaway restaurant works in a dark kitchen with the aid of phone's flashlight during a power outage in Madrid
'I can get signal on my rooftop, but I can't get signal down below. One floor down I have nothing,' they said.
'The traffic lights are still working... The underground is not working apparently. Lots of parts of the public transport are not working.'
The power cuts come just days after Spain's power grid ran entirely on renewable energy, including wind, solar and hyrdro power, for a whole day for the first time on April 16.
Spanish officials are urgently investigating the cause of the outages and have said they are looking into the possibility of the blackouts being triggered by a devastating cyber attack.
Spanish railway company Renfe said that all trains have halted and no departures are currently taking place, with a power outage at a 'national level'.
Spain's electricity grid operator Red Eléctrica wrote on X: 'Plans to restore the electricity supply have been activated in collaboration with companies in the sector following the zero that occurred in the peninsular system.
'The causes are being analyzed and all resources are being dedicated to solving it. We will continue to report.'
Lottie Feist, 23, who lives in Lisbon, told of panic across the Portuguese capital as traffic lights cut out.
Traffic chaos gripped Lisbon as power outages hit the city
Closed doors at a Metro station in Madrid after the power outage hit
Commuters leave a subway station after a blackout hit Spain and Portugal, in Madrid
The translation student at Nova University said: 'There is no electricity, nothing is working.
'We don't know what's happening or why we are having a blackout.
'The roads are absolute carnage as no traffic lights are working.
'All the power is down, and businesses are being impacted.
'It's terrifying, people will be stuck in elevators, and everything has completely shut down.'
