Several airports, including Madrid airport, which is Spain's busiest, had no electricity, El Mundo reported. Madrid's mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, urged residents to limit their movements and stay off roads. Major cities including Barcelona, Seville and Valencia were without power. Parts of France were also affected by power loss.

Power cuts have impacted as many as 50 million people across Spain and Portugal - causing huge disruption to public transport, airports and vital telecommunications networks