Millions gather in Spain and elsewhere to watch total solar eclipse

Spain saw an unprecedented influx of visitors on Wednesday as a total solar eclipse crossed the country, drawing crowds to towns such as Medinaceli and major cities in the north. The phenomenon, the first total eclipse over Spain in more than a century, lasted about a minute in the region before ending over the Mediterranean.

The Interior Ministry reported that more than 33,500 police officers were deployed to manage the event, and 350 official viewing sites were set up across sparsely populated areas. Authorities also warned of high temperatures, with many locations exceeding 35 °C, and reminded the public to use certified eclipse glasses, which had been in short supply at pharmacies and stores.

"It’s simply impossible to imagine," said Rosa Celiberti, a language teacher in Medinaceli, describing her reaction to the darkness.

Tourism officials said the eclipse was expected to attract at least half a million additional visitors, driving up hotel demand in cities along the path of totality such as A Coruña, Bilbao and Santiago de Compostela. In Iceland, hotel rates in Reykjavík surged to over $1,000 per night as the country prepared for its first total eclipse visible from the capital since 1433.

In Reykjavik, hundreds gathered near Hallgrímskirkja church despite rain and cloud cover, cheering when the sky darkened and the brief totality occurred. On a cruise near Greenland, captain Sverre Rud of the MS Spitsbergen positioned his ship for optimal viewing, noting the excitement among passengers who had experienced continuous daylight on a 17-day Arctic itinerary.

Across Britain, where more than 90 % of the sun was obscured, people visited parks and open spaces to watch the event, with some describing the experience as a personal milestone.

The eclipse highlighted both the scientific interest and economic impact of rare celestial events, prompting coordinated public safety campaigns and a surge in related tourism activity across Europe.