Total eclipse plunges parts of Mexico, US and Canada into darkness
Millions of people were plunged into darkness during the day on Monday as the total solar eclipse made its way across the United States and eastern Canada, after starting in Mexico.
The highly-anticipated eclipse saw the Earth, the sun and the moon perfectly aligned, resulting in ‘totality’ – the moment when the face of the sun is completely blocked by the moon.
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People react to total eclipse
The Mexican beach town of Mazatlan was the first place to witness the cosmic event at around 11.15am local time (7.15pm UK time), and cheers broke out on the promenade as it began.
As it happened: Millions plunged into darkness
Best videos and images from eclipse
People using protective glasses to watch the eclipse in Mazatlan, Mexico. Pic: Reuters/Henry Romero
The moon covering the sun during tonight’s total eclipse
Map showing when the eclipse happened across the United States (in UK time)
Hundreds of people wearing eclipse glasses had gathered in a beachside park and passed time by listening to a youth orchestra playing Star Wars songs as images of Princess Leia were projected on to a big screen.
Those viewing the phenomenon could see the sun’s outer atmosphere, called the corona, shining bright around the edge of the moon as it was blocked.
For onlookers, the total eclipse lasted up to four minutes and 28 seconds. As the sun was covered by the moon, darkness descended and there was also a noticeable temperature drop.
Darkness falling over Mazatlan, Mexico. Pic: AP Photo/Fernando Llano
The eclipse moved through multiple US states and major cities – including Dallas, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo and New York – before making its way to eastern Canada.
It took just one hour and 40 minutes for the eclipse to race along its 4,000 mile course and an early afternoon chill swept across Texas as it began its journey across the United States.
Crowds refuse to let bad weather dampen the mood
The eclipse was slightly obscured by clouds in some areas, but crowds didn’t let the weather ruin the experience.
Reacting to the moment of totality in Dallas, one onlooker told Sky News: “It’s amazing, you can see the stars around it. It’s incredible.”
Clouds partially covered the eclipse in Eagle Pass, Texas. Pic: Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP
The solar eclipse in Texas.Pic: AP
Clouds in Arlington, Texas. Pic: AP Photo/Julio Cortez
In Georgetown, Texas, the skies cleared just in time to give spectators a clear view.
“We are really lucky,” said Susan Robertson. “Even with the clouds it is kind of nice because when it clears up it is like ‘wow’.”
The eclipse was first visible in Mexico
The eclipse travelled across the United States and was visible in cities such as Dallas. Pic: Reuters
The weather was kinder in Vermont, New England, where one dedicated eclipse watcher told US correspondent Mark Stone “you couldn’t ask for nicer skies”.
John, who was witnessing his eighth eclipse, said: “I was planning to go to Texas a week ago but changed my mind.
“For me, personally, this [eclipse] is better [than the others]. I wasn’t trying to photograph it, I was just enjoying the moment.”
Today’s event is something of an anomaly as total eclipses are only meant to happen once every 375 years in any one place in the world – yet people in Illinois are seeing one for the second time in seven years.
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The lucky residents of Carbondale were also in a prime position for the 2017 eclipse. Pic: Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein
The city of Carbondale saw a total solar eclipse in August 2017 and was today in the path of totality yet again.
New York also got in on the action as a partial eclipse was visible from the city’s streets.
People watch the eclipse in Times Square. Pic: Reuters
Huge crowds on the observation deck of Edge at Hudson Yards, New York. Pic: Reuters
Clouds ruin the view in UK and Ireland
Stargazers had hoped that the partial eclipse would be visible from cities including Dublin, Belfast, Liverpool and Edinburgh – but social media users sadly said bad weather got in the way.
The shadow passed over the homes of 32 million people in the US – and plenty more travelled to see it, with Texas alone preparing for up to one million visitors.
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Some US towns and counties declared state of emergencies in a bid to get ahead of the influx of stargazers, and residents and tourists alike were told to stock up on food and water before the big day amid shortage fears.
“Super high-IQ revolutionaries” who are willing to work 80+ hours a week are being urged to join Elon Musk’s new cost-cutting department in Donald Trump’s incoming US government.
The X and Tesla owner will co-lead the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
And in a post on X, the official DOGE account put out a call to arms for people to sign up and help “dismantle government bureaucracy”.
The post said: “We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE.
“We don’t need more part-time idea generators.
“We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.
“If that’s you, DM this account with your CV. Elon & Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants.”
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Elon Musk speaking at an event held at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Pic: AP Photo/Alex Brandon
In a reply to an interested party, Mr Musk suggested the lucky applicants would be working for free.
“Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lost of enemies & compensation is zero,” the world’s richest man wrote.
“What a great deal!”
When announcing the new department, President-elect Donald Trump said Mr Musk and Mr Ramaswamy “will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies”.
Mr Musk has previously made clear his desire to see cuts to “government waste” and in a post on his X platform suggested he could axe as many as three-quarters of the more than 400 federal departments in the US, writing: “99 is enough.”
At least 10 people have been killed after a fire broke out at a retirement home in northern Spain in the early hours of this morning, officials have said.
A further two people were seriously injured in the blaze at the residence in the town of Villafranca de Ebro in Zaragoza, according to the Spanish news website Diario Sur.
Two people remain in a critical condition following the blaze. Pic: AP
They remain in a critical condition, while several others received treatment for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at the residence – the Jardines de Villafranca – at 5am (4am UK time) on Friday.
Several residents were treated for smoke inhalation. Pic: AP
Those who were killed in the fire died from smoke inhalation, Spanish newspaper Heraldo reported.
The residence is home to 82 elderly residents.
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The blaze started in one of the rooms, Fernando Beltran, the national government’s top official in the region, told reporters.
All of the victims were elderly residents, he added.
Relatives wait for news outside the care home. Pic: AP
Fire crews, paramedics and police officers remain on site, said a spokesperson for the regional government of Aragon who confirmed the fatalities.
It took firefighters several hours to extinguish the blaze, they said.
The cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated.
At least 10 people have been killed after a fire broke out at a retirement home in northern Spain in the early hours of this morning, officials have said.
A further two people were seriously injured in the blaze at the residence in the town of Villafranca de Ebro in Zaragoza, according to the Spanish news website Diario Sur.
Two people remain in a critical condition following the blaze. Pic: AP
They remain in a critical condition, while several others received treatment for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at the residence – the Jardines de Villafranca – at 5am (4am UK time) on Friday.
Several residents were treated for smoke inhalation. Pic: AP
Those who were killed in the fire died from smoke inhalation, Spanish newspaper Heraldo reported.
The residence is home to 82 elderly residents.
Read more from Sky News:
Mass displacement in Gaza – people unsure where to go
Donald Trump picks vaccine sceptic as health secretary
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The blaze started in one of the rooms, Fernando Beltran, the national government’s top official in the region, told reporters.
All of the victims were elderly residents, he added.
Relatives wait for news outside the care home. Pic: AP
Fire crews, paramedics and police officers remain on site, said a spokesperson for the regional government of Aragon who confirmed the fatalities.
It took firefighters several hours to extinguish the blaze, they said.
The cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated.
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