Power blackouts force Las Cañadas residents onto streets after another sleepless night

Neighbours from Las Cañadas, the area between Mijas and Fuengirola, poured into the streets on Saturday morning, July 25, despite intense heat. Another steamy night without power had left families exhausted and angry. Electricity, or rather its repeated absence, was behind the protest.

Latest outage leaves homes dark from midnight

Power vanished at precisely midnight. Homes were left without light or hot water. No fans, and no air conditioning. Food began to spoil in fridges. Older people and those who need care faced extra hardship. Normal daily life stopped cold, or rather very hot indeed. Residents described the scene in their public letter: “From midnight last night we have been without electricity supply in our homes, with all that this implies: families without electricity, without hot water, spoiled food, elderly and dependent people affected, and the impossibility of developing a normal life.”

Chronic grid failures stretch back years

This blackout forms only the latest chapter. Locals report years of cuts, voltage drops and constant breakdowns. They blame an electrical network that is clearly insufficient and obsolete for today’s demands. “We have been suffering from power cuts, power drops and constant breakdowns for years due to the poor condition of a clearly insufficient and obsolete electrical network for the current needs of the neighborhood,” the letter states. Neighbours say they have complained for far too long without any lasting fix. Local authorities themselves recently admitted historical supply problems exist in Las Cañadas and that modernisation investment is required. But, it’s the responsibility of the electricity company and not the council, in this case.

Shops shut, goods lost, workers idle

Economic damage hit hard on Saturday. Many small businesses remained closed, losing a full day’s trade. Perishable stock risked total loss. Staff and customers both suffered. “Today, numerous shops and small businesses have not been able to open their doors, losing a full day of work and putting perishable products at risk, in addition to affecting workers and customers,” residents wrote. They call the situation unacceptable in the twenty-first century.

Call for real investment, not cowboy fixes

No special treatment is sought, only a basic service every citizen deserves. Bills are paid on time. Stable, quality power is a right, they insist. An urgent appeal goes out to the distribution company and competent authorities. “We call on the distribution company and the competent administrations to act urgently and definitively. The neighbours of Las Cañadas are tired of promises and temporary solutions. We need facts, real investments and a firm commitment so that this situation does not happen again.” Hundreds of families and businesses remain affected by a problem that has lasted years, not a one-off failure.