Cantabria sufre apagón nacional con múltiples afectaciones
Cantabria is experiencing a power outage on Monday that is affecting all of Spain, with the exception of the Balearic and Canary Islands, and causing numerous disruptions.
Although the causes of the incident are currently unknown, all administrations are mobilizing their resources to assist the population and address the most urgent issues.
The Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital is maintaining essential services using the autonomous power generators available at the hospital, as are the regional hospitals, according to the regional government.
The hospital is a critical infrastructure and, therefore, is equipped with these power generators to deal with situations like the one currently unfolding.
Another critical infrastructure in the autonomous community is the Seve Ballesteros-Santander Airport, which is also operating normally thanks to autonomous electrical equipment, as reported by Europa Press from the Government Delegation in Cantabria.
This state peripheral administration has also mobilized the National Police and Civil Guard to be «prepared» for any interventions they may need to carry out as a result of this exceptional situation.
The most noticeable effects of the power outage are in the Cantabrian capital, Santander, especially in terms of road traffic, with the City Council deploying all available personnel from the Local Police.
The power outage not only affects offices, workplaces, or businesses but has also left all traffic lights in the city off since 12:31 when the national electrical system failed, also affecting Portugal and parts of France.
Trains are also affected by the lack of power supply, with notices issued from the Cercanías and Renfe stations in Santander informing that all departures are suspended until further notice.
Currently, it is unknown which trains have been affected while in transit and have come to a halt due to the lack of power in the overhead lines, nor how many passengers may be on those trains.
«IMMEDIATE RESPONSE» IN SANTANDER
The Mayor of Santander, Gema Igual, has reported the «immediate response» of the City Council to manage the incidents caused by this power outage and has mobilized the Local Police, Firefighters, and Civil Protection, including «second shifts» and all available personnel.
The Local Police are managing traffic given that the traffic lights are not functioning, while the Municipal Firefighters and Civil Protection are handling any emergencies that may arise, currently related to people trapped in elevators «to assist them as soon as possible.»
Public elevators in the city are also being checked to confirm that no one is trapped, «which is not the case at the moment,» Igual said in a video sent by the City Council to the media at 13:45, when the power outage had already lasted more than an hour and a quarter.
Additionally, municipal services are trying to assess the «impact» of the power outage, as well as «the solution» because the situation is «completely bewildering, as it is beyond our control,» the mayor stated.
«We will be very attentive to assist the people of Santander,» said the mayor, who, «in this unusual situation,» called for «calm» and also «prudence.»
Thus, the Mayor of Santander has urged the public to conserve phone batteries and use them «for the most urgent matters because we do not know how long the power outage will last.»
