Volunteers directing traffic, radio circles, and the Zoo evacuation: Stories of the blackout

Barcelona"We're volunteers. I was riding my electric scooter and some cars almost crashed on Urgell Street and Aragó Street. And I thought: what a complicated intersection. Some workers gave me this [a reflective vest] and I started directing traffic with a volunteer whose name I don't even know yet," explains Gerard. He speaks as best he can because while he tries to explain what he's doing, he finds himself in the middle of this intersection, gesturing with his hands and blowing a whistle that dozens of vehicles obey.

It's one of the many responses from citizens to the chaos caused by the general power outage that has left at least the entire Iberian Peninsula without power. While essential services hold out thanks to generators and emergency and security forces ensure the impact of this exceptional situation is minimized, citizens and businesses have been forced to improvise, which has led to curious situations, like the one Gerard experienced.

"What we're doing most is elevators"

Shortly after noon, many streets in Barcelona were jammed: stopped cars, crowded sidewalks, and a constant mix of honking horns and beeps attempting to bring order to the chaos. On almost every corner, dozens of people were queuing at bus stops, and on every other corner, police vans or cars, with a more or less similar scene everywhere: several officers on foot responding to citizens' concerns. At the exit of the Tetuán metro station, a firefighter was helping a person with reduced mobility leave the station. "What we're doing most is using elevators," he explained to ARA. Meanwhile, a few kilometers down the road, the brand-new Parc des Glories was filling up with people coming out for the afternoon. Likewise, on Villarroel Street, a supermarket had to dismiss customers and close because it had run out of stock due to the rush of local people buying.

"It's the anti-pandemic," says Roger, referring to the congestion on the streets, aggravated by the closure of the metro and the railways. "We were on the railings and the power went out, and half an hour later they told us the voltage wasn't working and the services had stopped. We had to take the stairs down the tracks and walk about 200 meters to get to the exit," explains a young man on the ARA train. "It's frustrating because you can't pay for anything or charge your phone," says Miquel Garcia, an international business student at a school in the Eixample district. He lives in Sant Boi and is considering walking home.

Attractions evacuated at PortAventura World

These are the most common effects of the blackout, but the exceptional situation has also reached less common places. The PortAventura World amusement park has had to evacuate its attractions due to the power outage, according to Efe. "In the context of a widespread blackout outside our facilities, PortAventura World has experienced a power outage and, as a preventative measure and following established safety protocols, we have proceeded to evacuate some attractions," the park's management reported in a statement. Another curious evacuation occurred in Barcelona: the zoo had to close off dangerous animals before they realized that none of the electric safety fences were working. Outside, a group of tourists were left wanting to see them despite having tickets. At the Boqueria market, minutes earlier, stallholders and tourists watched as everything suddenly went dark.

"Does anyone have an analog radio?"

"Does anyone happen to have an analog radio?" a voice shouted from inside the Raval senior citizens' center. The blackout caught them while they were eating. "Luckily, we were able to heat up the food before the power went out," said Judit, a center monitor. Ramona was standing outside with her wheelchair-bound mother, carrying her home so she could bring her upstairs. With the power out, the transistor radio became one of the day's protagonists: in the middle of the Sant Antoni superblock, a group of people huddled around a radio, and a few islands further on, on the green axis of Consell de Cent, a similar sight appeared: three young people listening to the radio on a bench. "They already have electricity in Maresme, and it seems to be recovering in the Basque Country too," Marcel replied to a pedestrian who asked them "how things are going." They crossed the line at work because they had no electricity and were eating cold, industrial puree from a coffee cup they brought down from home.

"We have a battery-powered platform, but I'm afraid that if it takes too long, I won't be able to get home," said a worker who lives on the outskirts of Barcelona and has opted to stay at the office. Her colleagues, who live closer, have decided to go home. On the street, another image of the exceptional situation: some ATMs aren't working either. Others are, and dozens of people are standing in line in front of them.

"And what will happen to the fish?"

At the Grangeta restaurant in Raval, they were worried about the amount of food they might lose if the blackout continues. The food they have in the refrigerator won't last more than 24 hours, and the food in the freezer won't even last 18 hours. "And what's going to happen to the fish?" Isa wonders. "If the power doesn't come back on soon, they're going to die."

Karen, a German woman living in the Eixample district, explained with some alarm that she was going to buy the basics "to spend three days in peace." Without an elevator, she'll have to carry the groceries on her shoulders. "Just like grandma used to do," she says.