Hello and welcome to NewsHour live from the BBC World Service in London.

I'm Rebecca Kesb.

There's been a massive power cut today across Spain and parts of Portugal.

The Spanish Interior Minister has just declared a state of emergency for any regions requiring

or requesting central government assistance

for public order or any other functions. Millions of people are being affected. There's been no

electricity at all for hours. Internet and phone networks have also been down. Spanish authorities

say some power is now being restored, but it could be days before systems are up and running properly again.

The AFP news agency is reporting that just 20% of the power grid in Spain is now operating.

Today, there's been widespread disruption with total chaos on transport systems, planes and trains cancelled,

even traffic lights not functioning at one point.

The advice from government was to stay where you are and stay off the roads.

Just to give some context, Madrid's emergency services say they carried out 286 rescue operations to free people trapped in lifts or elevators

alone. That's not including all their other rescue operations today. And here, some locals

in Madrid told us of their experiences.

We had to go back to the hotel and then they told us that there was no electricity.

I leave the hotel, and there is no power anywhere.

We cannot put down the gate of the shop.

We're here a bit cut off, waiting to see what's going to happen, like all of the people in the shops.

It was difficult to get here.

The bus driver took pity on me.

I told him I had no mobile phone signal and he let me pass.

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