I have ordered a simple emergency am FM radio and light which has the ability to be charged either by solar power, from a usb or by hand crank, so covers all possibilities plus it can also be used as a power bank to emergency charge a phone. For 16 euros i think it will be useful for such situations at home or away from home.

Yes, it will give you a positive state of mind when the next disaster happens.
Use it periodically as at 16 eur the battery might not be that good or long lasting without it being cycled...
Before smartphones and the internet I used to carry a small world radio in my bag whilst traveling thru the EU.. A lot of nights listening to 5Live sports...

I have just checked to confirm my smart phone which is a Realme doesnt have the FM radio chip installed. I am nearly sure that my last phone did have that capability it worked when ear phones were connected as they were the antenna . Yes the one i have bought is a cheap work around so will both keep ensuring it works and not expect too much. That said i am often surprised how well some of these things work for the price one pays.

Gibraltar offered medical assistance to Spain's La Línea and surrounding areas following the widespread power outage affecting large parts of Spain and Portugal. The Chief Minister reached out to Spanish authorities, offering to take patients into the GHA's ITU and provide support for vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly. La Línea's ITU is currently running on generator power, and Gibraltar is on standby to assist as needed.

Watched a report that showed quite normal weather conditions across Spain at the time of the crash so I fancy we will never know the truth of the matter.

I have had several standardized messages from companies stating that they are trying to sort out their deliveries and asking customers yo be patient. I was due to have a Mercadona delivery today and fully expected to be told that there was a problem but it arrived at the correct time and all was well. I sent off an order to Amazon today for something that I order fairly regularly and have been informed that it will be delivered 6 May whereas it would normally arrive in 24 to 48 hours so I am guessing that there are difficulties with the computer system.

Rosemary

Yeah, I'm not exactly buying into the weather conditions excuse. Especially with cellphone networks crashing as far away as the Canaries... but at completely different times too.

It seems the blackout is being blamed for 4 deaths in Spain and Portugal.
3 from carbon monoxide poisoning and 1 from a fire started by a candle..

Far from ubiquitous, mine doesn't have one.

Far from convinced by 'atmospherics' too.

Allegedly the claim originated with Portugal's grid operator REN but they have publicly stated that they made no such comment. Being at the end of the line so to speak it's hard to understand how Portugal could have been in a better position to say what happened when even now Spain and France don't seem to really know?

More likely they don't want to say (yet) than they don't know

Spanish TV reporting huge price hikes on battery radios, torches and generators at 630% increase!! (No typo!!)

wow some increase

Heres an article re your comment

https://www.mundoamerica.com/news/20...2618b458b.html

The electricity came back at 3pm where I am, near to Barcelona. Back to work, no street party for me.

Luckily we have gas hobs and a Junkers Hydropower boiler (doesn't need electricity to light the pilot light) so we could eat a warm lunch. Mobile phone coverage was out until the power came back.

Completely solar at my house and cook on gas so was lucky to have a minimum disruption.