The British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar has been plunged into a severe crisis following a total power blackout that struck on Thursday. The outage, described as catastrophic by local authorities, has brought the Rock to a standstill, triggering a massive emergency response.
The Gibraltar Electricity Authority confirmed the failure originated from damaged undersea electricity cables that connect the territory to the mainland European grid. This critical infrastructure failure resulted in an immediate and complete loss of power across the entire nation.
Emergency Services Overwhelmed
As darkness fell, the territory's emergency services were inundated with a barrage of calls from distressed residents. The sole power station at Waterport, which should act as a backup, also failed to pick up the load, exacerbating the situation.
Critical infrastructure, including traffic lights and telecommunications, began to fail. Reports confirmed that the Gibraltar International Airport was forced to suspend all operations, causing immediate travel chaos.
A Nation Brought to a Halt
The blackout has had a profound impact on daily life and security:
- Homes and businesses were left without electricity, crippling commerce.
- Residents were urged to avoid unnecessary travel as streets descended into darkness.
- Vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly and those reliant on medical equipment, were identified as being at high risk.
The cause of the damage to the vital undersea cables is now the subject of an urgent investigation. The full extent of the damage and the timeline for a complete restoration of power remains unclear, leaving the community in a state of anxious uncertainty.
