On April 28, 2025, a massive power outage struck Spain and Portugal, affecting millions across the Iberian Peninsula. The blackout disrupted daily life, halting trains, shutting down traffic lights, and leaving many without electricity for hours, as per The Guardian.
What Happened?
The outage began at 12:33 p.m. CEST and was attributed to a rare atmospheric phenomenon. Extreme temperature variations in Spain led to “anomalous oscillations” in high-voltage lines, causing a loss of synchronization in the European electricity grid.
This disruption triggered a cascading failure, affecting power plants and infrastructure across Spain, Portugal, and southwest France.
Government Response
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared a state of emergency and convened the National Security Council. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro also held an emergency meeting to coordinate the response. Authorities assured the public that there was no evidence of a cyberattack, and efforts were underway to restore power.
Impact
The blackout affected major cities, including Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, and Porto. Public transportation systems, including metros and trains, were halted, and airports operated on backup power. Hospitals and emergency services relied on generators to maintain operations. Mobile networks experienced severe limitations, particularly in voice services.
Cause and Investigation
Initial investigations pointed to a rare atmospheric phenomenon caused by extreme temperature variations in Spain. This led to oscillations in high-voltage lines, disrupting the synchronization of the European electricity grid. While some speculated about a fire in southwest France damaging a high-voltage line, French authorities denied such an incident. Cyberattack theories were also considered but were ruled out by officials.
Outlook
Authorities are working to restore full power, with estimates ranging from several hours to up to a week for complete recovery. The incident has raised concerns about the resilience of interconnected electrical grids and the challenges posed by integrating renewable energy sources. Further investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause and to prevent future occurrences.
Power Is Back
The Guardian reported today that power returned to areas of Spain and Portugal by Tuesday. Spanish grid operator REE confirmed that electricity had been restored to nearly 90% of mainland Spain. In Portugal, national grid authorities reported power had been restored to approximately 6.2 million of the country’s 6.5 million households. Major cities, including Madrid and Lisbon, saw their lights come back on overnight.
(AP inputs)
