Chaos from the massive blackout in Spain grips businesses and the streets of Zaragoza

Zaragoza continues to suffer the consequences of the massive nationwide blackout, with traffic lights out and most shops and businesses without power. The chaos has led to numerous incidents throughout the Aragonese capital, mobilizing firefighters, local police, and the National Police to ensure safety and maintain peace. People trapped in elevators or bars with only cash to serve customers or receive payment have been a recurring sight for over an hour and a half now.

Although the tram service has been interrupted, Avanza city buses continue to operate normally despite the traffic lights going out. The mayor of Zaragoza, Natalia Chueca, is already meeting in a crisis cabinet to manage the emergency from Fire Station 1, in constant contact with the Government of Aragon and the Government Delegation.

“At the moment we are taking cash and continue to serve beer”

“We were paying and suddenly everything stopped working,” says a woman who was in the Bershka store on Paseo Independencia in Zaragoza. “For the moment, we’re collecting in cash and continuing to serve beers ,” explains a waiter at a bar on Calle Cádiz. Other restaurants and bars, however, have opted to stop serving . Gran Café de Zaragoza is one of those that has opted to continue serving, with its terrace full.

“We have electricity thanks to a generator we have, although we don’t know how long it will last,” said a store clerk at the Mango store on Paseo Independencia, one of the few downtown businesses where the power hasn’t been completely cut off due to the blackout. Bars, restaurants, and other businesses are also concerned about frozen food and refrigerators due to the potential losses that could last thousands of years .

NATIONAL POLICE PATROLS DEPLOYED IN THE CENTER

Up to three National Police vans have been deployed to Plaza España with orders to patrol and prevent chaos in the heart of the city. “We’ve been given orders to patrol to prevent possible robberies in businesses and establishments ,” an officer told this outlet. The Local Police are also present on the streets to regulate traffic in some critical areas of the city.

The presence of State Security Forces has also been extended to other locations in Zaragoza and Aragon to prevent potential criminal activity and reassure the public.