MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Downtown Madrid slowly returned to normal Friday following a spectacular fire at a power substation that sent a tall column of acrid black smoke over the Spanish capital.
About 200 people had to evacuate their homes while firefighters battled the blaze Thursday, which cut power to city institutions including Parliament, the Bank of Spain, and the Stock Exchange.
The burning substation was rocked by explosions and sent smoke billowing across Madrid, unsettling residents with fresh memories of terrorist bombings in March at nearby Atocha train station.
By Friday morning electricity supplies had been restored to almost all areas hit by blackouts, said Isaac Gonzalez, spokesman for the Union Fenosa power company.
Officials were waiting for the remains of the substation to cool down before a formal inspection could begin, the spokesman said.
Six firefighters suffered from smoke inhalation Thursday, and emergency services were called to treat five residents for falls and other minor injuries, said Emilio Benito, a rescue official.
Almost 200 people were killed and more than 2,000 were injured on March 11 when bombs exploded on four Spanish commuter trains. Spanish authorities have blamed the nation's worst terror attack on Islamic extremists.
