The power went out briefly, and when I tried to restart my PC there was a spark near the bottom of the case and a burnt smell. I unplugged it and plan to take it to a repair shop.
Could the other components be damaged too? Money is tight, so I would also appreciate advice on preventing this from happening again.
There is no reliable way to tell what survived just from the spark. The power supply may have failed, but the motherboard, graphics card, drives, or other parts could also be damaged. A good power supply can limit damage, but it is not a guarantee.
Ask the shop to inspect for visible damage and test the system with a known-good power supply before you buy replacement parts. Get a diagnosis and a cost estimate first, so you can decide what is worth replacing.
Keep it unplugged and do not try another restart. Tell the technician about the burnt smell and any tripped safety switches. Do not open the power supply yourself, since it can retain a dangerous charge after being unplugged.
If the switches trip again or there are signs of damage at the outlet, get an electrician to check the electrical circuit before using it again.
For next time, look for a surge protector with the correct plugs for your country and use a properly grounded outlet. An ordinary extension cord is not necessarily a surge protector. A UPS can also keep the PC running through a short outage, but check its power rating and surge protection features.
Neither device guarantees protection from every electrical fault, including a short inside the PC.
mIxEdSignalsOnly:
If you choose a UPS, make sure its wattage rating is sufficient for the equipment you want it to power.
Mention any rattling fans or damaged-looking wiring to the shop too. A fan or cable fault is one possibility, but a noise alone does not establish what caused the spark. They can inspect those parts while checking the rest of the system.
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tuesday!again:
Worth mentioning the location of the spark to the shop, but it does not prove the power supply was the source.