Photos show the impact of a massive blackout across Spain, Portugal, and parts of France

A metro station in Madrid plunged into the dark on Monday.

Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images

• A massive power outage hit Spain, Portugal, and parts of France on Monday.
• Trains, airports, and businesses were disrupted, while a major tennis event was stopped.
• Pictures from Spain show deserted stadiums and metro stations amid the blackout.

Millions in Spain, Portugal, and parts of France were hit by a massive power outage on Monday.

The blackout, which hit most of the Iberian Peninsula, was first reported around lunchtime local time.

In an X post, Spain's grid operator, Red Eléctrica, said the causes of the blackout were being analyzed, and all resources are being dedicated to solving them.

In a follow-up post, Red Eléctrica said that parts of the south and north of the peninsula are recovering power as of 1 p.m. local time, and that it continues to work on restoring full service.

The operator estimated it would take six to 10 hours to restore the entire power, per the Spanish news agency EFE.

Eduardo Prieto, Red Eléctrica's Director of Services for System Operations, described the incident to reporters as "absolutely exceptional and extraordinary."

He said the blackout was likely caused by a "very strong oscillation in the electrical network" that caused Spain's power system to "disconnect from the European system, and the collapse of the Iberian electricity network at 12:38 p.m."

Meanwhile, Spain's National Cybersecurity Institute is investigating whether the blackout could have been caused by a cyberattack, according to local media reports.

The French regional newspaper L'Indépendant reported isolated power outages in southern French cities, including Perpignan.

The blackout halted operations at train stations, airports, businesses, and major buildings across affected areas.

In Barcelona, shoppers visited grocery stores in the dark

Customers faced with powerless food stands in Barcelona on Monday.

Sandra Montanez/Getty Images

The metro system in Spain's capital Madrid was shut down and evacuated after the outage began

A metro station in Madrid in the dark during a widespread power outage in Spain on Monday.

Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images

Play was halted at the Madrid Open, one of the highlights of the clay court tennis season

The empty tennis court on day seven of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament on Monday.

Julian Finney/Getty Images

With little prospect of any more play, fans were sent away from the venue in Manzanares Park

Fans walked through the dark gangways during a general power blackout at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis game in Madrid on Monday.

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Fans streamed out of the exits into sunny, 70 degrees Fahrenheit weather

Fans walked through the dark gangways during a general power blackout at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis game in Madrid on Monday.

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Commuters waited in the shade after a Madrid train station closed

People wait outside a Madrid train station after its closure on Monday.

Thomas Coex / AFP via Getty Images

People gathered in the street after leaving metro stations in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon

People at a bus stop on the street after exiting a Lisbon metro station on Monday.

Adri Salido/Anadolu via Getty Images

Some in Lisbon also queued at ATMs to withdraw cash

People queued for the ATM in downtown Lisbon on Monday.

Patricia DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP via Getty Images

Substantial traffic jams were seen in Madrid

Vehicles queued on the M30 ring road in Madrid on Monday.

THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images

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