We have watched or heard of at least a movie where zombies / disease / terrorist attacks / natural disasters plunged a country into chaos and disorder.

I have wondered how I would react if I am caught in the midst of it. That thought materialised on 28.4.2025 in Barcelona. Here is my account of the unprecedented power outage that swept across the nation as well as other countries.

The day starts as a typical tourist day. A visit to Casa Batlló on a sunny morning with Jamie’s family. After which, we decide to walk to a place for lunch. It’s around 12pm. The decision to walk instead of taking the metro later proves to be the best decision made. More on this later.

While walking past shop after shop and peering in, I notice each premise canvassed without light. I think to myself that this is a power cut affecting a particular block. But as I continue walking, my worry increases. Block after block, every premise regardless of its business suffers the same predicament. Engulfed in darkness.

My worry exacerbates when staff (and even chefs for eateries) stand outside their respective premises looking bewildered. They are looking at their mobile phones, speaking to one another and some even shouting. Try as I might, I cannot understand. Presumably they are speaking Spanish.

We then reach our destination for lunch. Like all places, there is no electricity but a gentleman greets us. Before I can ask for a table, he apologetically tells us that due to the power outage the kitchen is not functionable. He however indicates that we can have drinks and wait for the electricity to resume. We take up on his offer.

While waiting for drinks, I take the opportunity to ask him about the reason for the major blackout. He, like me, is on the same page. Clueless.

As I slowly sip my fermented grapes, I try accessing my mobile phone for ongoing updates. The screen tells me that there is no network. I reassure myself that it’s due to my unreliable device. I attempt to casually ask the rest about their network. One by one, they tell me that there is no connection. Had I been consuming my drink at this point, I would have spluttered. Thankfully I didn’t.

As if this disconcerting position isn’t terrible enough, I hear sirens blaring in the next street. I quickly run over. I see police cars zooming and bypassing a congested street of vehicles. Some traffic lights are not even functioning. All around there are crowds of tourists admiring local attractions, oblivious to what I now growingly feel is the start of either a zombie apocalypse or a terrorist attack. I rush back to the group and finally voice my concerns.

We take turns exploring the shops nearby. Most were in the midst of closing their shutters due to the power outage. Those remaining open could only accept cash as all machines run on electricity.

I try then to access cash from nearby ATMs. None were functioning on account of the absence of electricity.

It’s now 4.00pm and there is still no electricity anywhere. The consensus is to go to Jamie’s cousin’s apartment for refuge as it’s nearer to where we are. Thankfully once again we decide to walk instead of taking the metro.

The walk this time takes on a strong tinge of discomfort and uncertainty.

I see people shouting upwards from the street level tying to get those upstairs to open the downstairs doors. Tourists having just arrived dragging their suitcases looking bewildered for not being able to access their accommodation. By this time many shops were closed and for the larger premises with glass windows, I see stationed security guards. There are more police officers patrolling the streets.

By now, many seem to sense there is something wrong. The mood on the streets is unsettling. We pick up pace towards our refuge. The fear is being on the streets when it gets close to night time.

We reach our destination unscathed. Food is our priority. The stove and microwave over runs on electricity so our options for food are severely restricted. We pool whatever cash and coins we have on hand. Some of us then head out again to stock up on candles and food.

The situation on the streets is more chaotic. There are queues in the few shops operating. People are buying water, candles and food. Thankfully it has not descended into anarchy…yet.

We buy what we can and head back to our refuge. From the afternoon until now, we try to access the internet to find out the extent of this power outage. Alas, everything seems to be inaccessible.

With nothing left to do, we light the candles, eat some of the food and contemplate rationing the rest. We start planning on sleeping arrangements. Grateful that there is running water at least. We then wait. And we continue to wait.

The realisation dawns upon us. How dependent we are on electricity and how we take it for granted. Never realising how crucial it is until its absence.

Fortunately, electricity is restored and our respective mobile phones explode with a flurry of news and messages enquiring about our well-being. We slowly sieve through the news to discover the massiveness of this unprecedented event. Reading about trains being stranded, we count ourselves lucky for not being stuck and having a safe place.

I am glad that we made it through.