Spain and Portugal hit by major power outage

A closed metro station in Madrid, among the worst hit cities

SUSANA VERA/REUTERS

Experts said hospitals and other vital infrastructure should have back-up systems to avoid catastrophe. However the knock-on effects from the power cuts could get worse the longer they continue.

Dr Rowena Hill, professor of resilience, emergencies and disaster science at Nottingham Trent University, said: “If the electricity is out across the board, there are further implications the longer things go on. Not being able to get cash, not being able to process transactions, not being able to get fuel, the electricity might also ink to water or sewerage pumps and so that has a consequence for the younger and older populations quite quickly.

“But immediate thoughts are for those who have care support in the community that is electricity dependent. The acute health points are