Spain has declared a state of emergency following a nationwide power outage that has plunged much of the country into chaos, prompting gridlocked roads, disrupted transport, and widespread panic buying.

The Interior Ministry confirmed the emergency designation on Monday, stating it would be activated in regions that formally request it, as authorities brace for the possibility that the blackout could extend for several days.

The outage, which began earlier in the day, has caused widespread disruption across Spain and parts of Portugal. The Spanish government has deployed 30,000 police officers nationwide to maintain public order during the evening blackout, as residents and tourists scramble for supplies and cash.

Long lines have formed outside supermarkets and banks, and the lack of power has also paralyzed transport infrastructure. Airports across the Iberian Peninsula have experienced significant delays and cancellations, with Portugal’s national airline, TAP Air, urging passengers not to travel until further notice.

Train and metro services in both Spain and Portugal have been suspended, leaving passengers stranded in tunnels and on tracks, prompting emergency evacuations in some areas.

So far, the autonomous communities of Madrid, Andalusia, and Extremadura have formally requested that the central government assume control over public order and other essential functions.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the nation, saying that while the cause of the blackout remains unclear, power has been restored to roughly 60 percent of the country. “We do not yet have conclusive information on the reasons for this power cut,” Sánchez said. “I urge the public to rely on official sources for updates, as we have done in previous crises.”

He added that there have been no confirmed incidents of civil unrest or security threats, emphasizing, “There are no problems of insecurity.”

Portugal’s acting Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, offered a cautiously optimistic update, stating that full power restoration was expected “within hours.” However, he acknowledged that the timeline may be longer than in Spain, due to Portugal’s heavier reliance on domestic energy resources.

The blackout, described as one of the most extensive in recent European history, has raised serious questions about the stability of the region’s power grid, as investigations continue into the source of the failure.