{
  "id": 740845,
  "title": "IN IMAGES: Solar eclipse plunges large swathe of Spain into total darkness",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/in-images-solar-eclipse-plunges-large-swathe-of-spain-into-total",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-13T06:35:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Local Spain",
    "slug": "the-local-spain",
    "url": "https://www.thelocal.es/20260813/solar-eclipse-plunges-large-swathe-of-spain-into-total-darkness"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A total solar eclipse plunged a vast area of Spain into darkness on Wednesday, leaving spectators in awe and amazement. The rare astronomical event lasted only a few minutes but captivated Spaniards and tourists alike across a stretch of land from Galicia to the Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands. As the light gradually faded in Tarragona, on the Mediterranean coast, a crowd remained almost silent, their eyes fixed on the orange glow that gave way to near-complete darkness. Many had traveled from across Catalonia to witness the spectacle, swept up in the excitement that had gripped Spain in recent days due to the eclipse's approach, the first of its kind in over a century.\n\nLaura Alarcon, a 53-year-old accountant from Tarragona, expressed her excitement saying, \"Very exciting.\" She had not expected the eclipse to be as impressive as it was and praised the preparation that had gone into organizing the event. Nearby, Alejandro Cuesta, a 30-year-old nanoscience researcher from Barcelona, struggled to contain his emotions, saying, \"I almost started crying. A shiver ran through my whole body. It was beautiful.\"\n\nIn the town of Lodoso, hundreds of people gathered in a heat-scorched field as the moon covered the sun completely. Cheers turned into a spellbound silence as spectators marveled at the solar corona. Marta Miguel Tobrar, a 48-year-old illustrator visiting from Burgos, said, \"I got goosebumps. I wasn't expecting that light.\"\n\nSome had waited all afternoon in sweltering heat beneath umbrellas, while others had set up telescopes to view the event. Clear instructions were posted in several languages, including French, Korean, Polish, German, and English, to help the crowd get organized.\n\nAt the start of the partial eclipse, some people shouted \"Wow!\" as they eagerly watched the Moon begin to cover the sun. A group of South Korean tourists broke into enthusiastic applause. The scene was captured by countless phones, immortalizing that precise moment. In Palma de Majorca, tourists, some in swimsuits and others standing in the water, watched the eclipse closely, protective glasses perched on their noses.\n\nThe same excitement could be seen in towns across Spain, such as Colmenar Viejo near Madrid. Rosa María Zamora, a 72-year-old retiree, exclaimed, \"It's spectacular, very beautiful, really, a unique moment.\" She emphasized that it wasn't good for one's eyes to look at it for too long, but it was still amazing.",
  "summary": "The total eclipse plunged a vast swathe of Spain from broad daylight into darkness Wednesday, drawing awed gasps and applause from spectators gathered in parks and cities across the country.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Local Spain",
        "title": "IN IMAGES: Solar eclipse plunges large swathe of Spain into total darkness",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/in-images-solar-eclipse-plunges-large-swathe-of-spain-into-total-741359",
        "published": "2026-08-13T06:35:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}