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Officials in Portugal have revealed the bizarre environmental cause behind major power outages currently affecting both countries, as current information suggests it could last for up to a week.
Electricity has become a fundamental part of almost every aspect of daily life, as everything from transportation to cooking uses and requires power to function.
People have previously speculated that a global power outage could be more devastating than another World War, and that is entirely due to the dependence we have on power to function.
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That has been seen in action following the recent widespread power cuts in both Spain and Portugal, as both countries have suffered from mass outages leaving many in a chaotic situation.
As reported by the Independent, cities like Madrid, Lisbon, and Barcelona have been left without internet or electricity, forcing shops to close and travel to shut off entirely.
Trains from Spanish railway operator Renfe have been left unable to depart from stations, and reports from Madrid's underground transportation system indicating that areas had to be evacuated.
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Officials have now finally broken their silence regarding the cause of this catastrophic outage, with Portuguese energy company Rede Electrica Nacional (REN) offering an explanation, as per the BBC.
It has explained that "due to extreme temperature variations in the interior of Spain, there were anomalous oscillations in the very high voltage lines (400 KV), a phenomenon known as 'induced atmospheric vibration'.
"These oscillations caused synchronization failures between the electrical systems, leading to successive disturbances across the interconnected European network."
The event has also been branded a 'rare atmospheric phenomenon', although officials from Spain have yet to corroborate these claims. Additionally, concerns surrounding a major cyberattack have been completely ruled out by Antonio Costa, president of the European Council.
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Initial estimates outlined that it would likely take a week for the grid to come back online, restoring power to the millions of affected citizens across both countries, but Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has illustrated that he expects power to return to his country "in the coming hours."
Additionally, areas of the Iberian peninsula in Spain have already seen power returned, with assistance from French grid operator RTE among others to restore networks in affected locations.
Spain's nuclear reactors have also been confirmed to be safe following the outage, which was a major concern for many. They initially stopped working following the widespread power cut, but resumed normal service after emergency generators kicked in.
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However, many are still left stranded with airports and train stations remaining out of service, with no clear indication of when travel will resume as normal, allowing them to return home.