Millions without power as Spain and Portugal face unprecedented power outage
By isabelle // 2025-04-28
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  • A massive power outage left Spain, Portugal, and parts of France in chaos as voltage drops crippled rail networks, shut airports, and cut off millions from electricity.
  • Critical infrastructure collapsed—trains halted, commuters were stranded, emergency calls failed, and elevators trapped people as backup systems barely functioned.
  • Air travel faced severe disruptions, and major events like the Madrid Open tennis tournament were abruptly paused due to power losses.
  • Officials blamed "anomalous oscillations" from extreme weather, but skepticism remains as investigations explore potential cyber threats or sabotage.
  • Recovery efforts are slow, with Spain partially restoring power while authorities warn of prolonged instability and rising public unrest.
A massive power outage plunged mainland Spain, Portugal, and parts of France into darkness at noon on Monday, sparking chaos across the Iberian Peninsula. Voltage dropped abruptly, reducing Spain's grid output by nearly 45% and crippling rail networks, silencing airports, and leaving millions without electricity. The outage, which appears to have originated in Spain, triggered cascading failures affecting critical infrastructure, emergency services, and everyday life, with recovery expected to take hours at best.

The blackout's shattering impact across Spain and Portugal

Rail networks were the first to collapse. In Spain, trains ground to a halt, forcing commuters to evacuate stalled subway cars in Madrid and Barcelona. High-speed AVE trains ceased operations entirely, stranding passengers. Portugal's capital, Lisbon, faced gridlock as traffic lights failed, while France's Basque region endured brief, localized outages. Transportation Minister Óscar Puente warned that trains could remain paralyzed until the following day, stating that medium- and long-distance trains may not be running until tomorrow. The outage disabled communications nationwide. Cell networks faltered, silencing emergency calls and separating families. Madrid residents gathered on dimmed sidewalks. Fire stations in Madrid rescued 174 people trapped in elevators, with municipal crews delivering emergency fuel to nursing homes and daycare centers. Air travel faced delays, though airports like Madrid-Barajas and Lisbon's primary terminal relied on backup systems to manage limited operations. The Madrid Open tennis tournament suspended matches mid-game, with players like Grigor Dimitrov abandoning courts as the lights and scoreboards shut off.

Communication collapse and travel disruptions

The outage's ripple effects extended beyond borders. Portugal's grid operator, REN, confirmed disruptions in France's southwest, while Spain's Transnational Energy Grid (Red Eléctrica) blamed "anomalous oscillations in the very high-voltage lines" linked to "extreme temperature variations." An "induced atmospheric vibration" caused grid synchronization failures, REN explained, in a rare weather event described as a phenomenon that has never happened before. However, skepticism persists. While EU officials dismissed the possibility of cyberattacks or sabotage, citing a "lack of evidence," others remain cautious. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who flew to Red Eléctrica's control center and requested France and Morocco's energy support to stabilize the grid, said that no theory has been discarded yet. Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro echoed concerns, admitting intelligence groups were probing for malicious intent.

Could a rare weather event trigger Europe's worst power crisis?

The blackout exposed vulnerabilities in Europe's energy systems. By midday, hospitals and chemical facilities like Tarragona's industries remained operational courtesy of generators, but prolonged outages could test resilience. EU Vice President Teresa Ribera described the event as one of "the most serious episodes recorded in Europe in recent times." Recovery has been uneven. Red Eléctrica reported partial power restoration in Spain's north and south but cautioned the full grid might require 6 to 10 hours to stabilize. Meanwhile, Madrid politician Isabel Díaz Ayuso pushed to deploy the military to "maintain order" amid rising public unrest. As the outage's origin remains unclear, authorities have focused on containment. "The government is working, and will continue to work, to learn the cause of this power outage. Right now, the priority is to work to restore normality as soon as possible," Sánchez reiterated at a press conference. Yet without confirmation, experts speculate: Could weather extremes weaken grids unsuspectedly? Could an adversary, state-sponsored or otherwise, exploit the chaos? For now, Europe braces for answers—and fresh disruptions—if such a crisis repeats.   Sources for this article include: RT.com CNN.com APNews.com FoxNews.com
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