Red Eléctrica has reported that the operation of the electrical system was already fully restored and normalized by 11:15 a.m. after the blackout that affected all of Peninsular Spain yesterday. "We can rule out a cybersecurity incident at the electrical network facilities and the electrical network control center," the entity reported in a press conference on Tuesday.
The system was "stable," and shortly after, they detected "an event in the electrical system compatible with a generation loss" in the southwest region of the peninsula. A second and a half later, another event "compatible with a generation loss" occurred, degrading the system, which "was unable to survive this extreme disturbance, resulting in the blackout," explained Red Eléctrica.
Eight autonomous communities declared Level 3 Emergency yesterday: Andalusia, Extremadura, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Castilla-La Mancha, Galicia, and the Valencian Community, where the government took control, although Murcia and Galicia requested this morning to lower the alert level. In all of them, as well as Aragon, public and private schools are open, but classes are not being held.
King Felipe VI presided over the National Security Council meeting at the Moncloa Palace, led by Sánchez and with the participation of ten ministers, the Chief of the Defense Staff, and the Director of the National Intelligence Center. The meeting lasted an hour and a half, followed by an extraordinary Council of Ministers focused solely on blackout issues.
FACUA emphasizes that claims can be made for spoiled food and damaged appliances
The Secretary-General of FACUA-Consumers in Action, Rubén Sánchez, emphasized that users can file claims for spoiled food and electrically damaged appliances as a result of the blackout that occurred on Monday, although in the first case, the responsible parties would not be the electrical distributors but the insurance companies.
In a press conference, Sánchez explained that for this, one would have to have a policy that includes coverage for food spoilage due to a blackout, which would lead to compensation as long as the situation can be proven, for example, with photographs.
Therefore, he recommended that users contact their insurance companies to verify if they are entitled to such compensation and added that it is not mandatory to have purchase receipts, although they will ask for "some evidence that what is being claimed is true."
The University of Seville resumes classes this afternoon
The University of Seville resumes classes starting at 2:30 p.m., although it asks professors not to consider absences because rail traffic has not yet fully recovered and there are still population centers with communication problems, as reported by Teresa López Pavón.
The Andalusian Government rules out lowering the emergency level for now because total normalcy has not yet been restored throughout the territory and remains at Level 3.
Fewer surgeries and care for electro-dependent patients, the main health issues
The incidents recorded in the healthcare system as a result of the blackout have been "limited," according to the Ministry of Health, after reducing non-urgent surgeries, prioritizing electro-dependent individuals, and ensuring the supply of diesel for hospitals and health centers to guarantee a minimum autonomy of 24 hours.
These were the main contingency actions deployed by the Ministry of Health in coordination with the autonomous communities, according to the day's report from the department led by Mónica García.
Communication with the communities "was constant" until late, when the minister - who also participated in meetings at Red Eléctrica de España and the National Security Council - held direct conversations with those requesting the activation of Level 3 alert.
Health and Interior, along with the Emergency Military Unit (UME), centralized critical information and coordinated fuel supply to hospitals and health centers, including several dialysis centers in Madrid, ensuring the operation of the generators.
"Knowing the causes with certainty will take time," according to Red Eléctrica
The Director of Operation Services at Red Eléctrica, Eduardo Prieto, explained in the press conference that to refine the causes of the blackout, they are waiting to receive information from the generation control centers. Having all the analyses, due to the complexity of the system, "may take time." Although they do not want to commit to a timeframe, they hope that the conclusions will be available "as soon as possible" because "it is in everyone's interest." Right now, they want to implement safeguard systems to prevent something of this nature from happening again, as reported by Guillermo del Palacio.
Ouigo cancels five trains today
The French high-speed operator Ouigo has canceled the operation of five trains with 2,500 passengers today due to the inability to guarantee their operation on the Adif network. Yesterday, five trains were stranded with almost 3,000 passengers on board, as reported by César Urrutia.
Overall, since yesterday, there have been 19,000 passengers with Ouigo tickets affected by the blackout that disabled the 16,000 kilometers of the railway network. A total of 24 trains with an additional 13,500 passengers from the five affected trains on the track were canceled.
Red Eléctrica: "We can rule out a cybersecurity incident"
"We can rule out a cybersecurity incident at the electrical network facilities and the electrical network control center," stated Red Eléctrica in its press conference on Tuesday, as reported by Guillermo del Palacio.
The system was "stable" in all its variables and under safe conditions. Shortly after, they detected "an event in the electrical system compatible with a generation loss" in the southwest region of the peninsula. A second and a half later, another event "compatible with a generation loss" occurred, degrading the system. This led to oscillations as mentioned yesterday and the disconnection from the French system. Everything happened in five seconds. "The system was unable to survive this extreme disturbance, resulting in the blackout."
Banks operate normally, with "isolated incidents"
Banks are already operating normally, although with "some isolated incidents" in offices and ATMs, as reported by sources from the Bank of Spain to Europa Press with information updated at 9:30 a.m.
After the blackout that affected the Iberian Peninsula this past Monday, activity has been gradually returning to normal. In the financial system, the Bank of Spain has verified that the Target system is functioning well and that payments are being processed normally. No entity has reported incidents related to this interbank financing operation.
On the other hand, Iberpay, which was experiencing slight delays yesterday, is now operating normally. This company is responsible for managing the national payment system, a specialized infrastructure for processing, clearing, and settling payment instruments based on bank current accounts: transfers, instant transfers, direct debits, checks, transfers, and effects, among other matters. It also plays a "key" role in distributing cash to Spanish financial institutions.
Regarding Redsys, a payment processing system related to card operations, the situation has been restored, and a "total" recovery is reported in all major stores.
The securities infrastructures, managed by Iberclear and BME Clearing, are also operating without incidents.
Red Cross distributes breakfast at Sants
The Red Cross arrives at Sants, sets up a tent outside the station, and distributes breakfast, as reported by Cristina Rubio. There are hundreds of passengers unable to travel in Barcelona.
The high-speed trains between Barcelona and Madrid scheduled for today are departing with delays and off-schedule.
In addition, Renfe is trying to partially restore the Cercanías service in Catalonia. The first Rodalies train to Manresa is now departing from Sants.