A massive power outage has knocked out electricity across huge parts of Spain and Portugal, shutting off traffic lights and causing chaos at airports, train stations and on the roads.

Yesterday lunchtime, at around 12:30 pm Madrid time (11:30 am in Lisbon/GMT), the entire Iberian Peninsula suddenly lost electricity as a monster power outage took down the grid that feeds both Spain and Portugal – as well as part of France.

Spain and Portugal have regained access to electricity after one of Europe’s worst blackouts paralysed transport systems, disrupted mobile communications and postponed medical procedures.