Editorial | Blackout chaos in Europe reveals need to reduce risks
Crippling power outage to hit Spain and Portugal is the latest in similar global disruptions and another reminder to guard critical infrastructure
The crippling power blackout that caused chaos in Spain and Portugal on Monday serves as a potent reminder of the extent to which modern life depends on reliable sources of energy.
Investigations are under way to establish the cause of the sudden and dramatic loss of electricity, which lasted for hours and led to states of emergency in both nations.
A cyberattack has been ruled out and sabotage is seen as unlikely. The trigger for the massive outage, which affected millions of people including in Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon, must be established and urgent steps taken to prevent a recurrence.
It is a matter of concern around the world at a time when threats to critical infrastructure, from attacks on computer systems to the impact of climate change, are growing.
During the outage, life seemed to return to a bygone age as lights went out and telephone signals disappeared.
Transport came to a near halt. Flights were cancelled, trains stranded, city streets were gridlocked as traffic lights stopped working. Long queues formed at cash machines, with digital payment methods rendered useless.
