On Monday, April 28, 2025, a massive blackout struck Portugal and Spain, plunging millions into darkness and disrupting essential services. The power outage, which began shortly before noon local time (7 AM in Brasília), also affected parts of France, Belgium, Italy, Poland, and Finland, as reported by various news outlets.
The Portuguese electricity network operator, REN, confirmed that the outage impacted the entire Iberian Peninsula and parts of France, with the first signs of trouble appearing around 11:33 AM local time. As a result, traffic lights across Portugal ceased functioning, and public transport systems, including subways in Lisbon and Porto, came to a standstill. Trains were not circulating, and police urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel, emphasizing that "your calm saves lives," as stated in their announcement.
In Spain, the situation mirrored that of its neighbor, with the Red Eléctrica, the country’s electricity provider, acknowledging the widespread issue. The Spanish government quickly mobilized to determine the cause of the blackout, which left many residents in cities like Madrid and Barcelona without power. The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez Almeida, advised residents to stay put if possible, acknowledging the difficulties everyone was facing.
Reports indicated that the blackout also impacted communication services, with many people relying on mobile data to stay connected. In major cities, including Seville, Barcelona, and Pamplona, residents found themselves in the dark, with services not yet restored even under emergency protocols. The situation was dire enough that hospitals and airports had to rely on emergency generators to maintain operations.
Fernando Mitre, a journalist in Lisbon, described the scene: "Around 11:30 AM, there was a general power outage, and information started to trickle in that other European countries were also affected. Now, hospitals are closing, and access tunnels in Lisbon are shut down. Traffic lights are non-functional, and the police are advising against heading to the city center. Everything is at a standstill."
In Spain, the blackout led to the evacuation of parts of the Madrid subway, and the Barajas Airport remained without power. The Spanish railway company Renfe announced the suspension of its services at 12:30 PM local time due to the outage. The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, visited the Red Eléctrica control center to oversee the response efforts.
As the blackout unfolded, the European Commission stated it was in contact with authorities in both Spain and Portugal to understand the causes of the incident. A spokesperson for the Commission noted that protocols were in place to ensure smooth communication among all relevant parties and to facilitate the restoration of power.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that a problem in the European distribution network might have triggered the blackout. Additionally, the possibility of a cyberattack was not ruled out, prompting the National Institute of Cybersecurity to launch an investigation into the matter.
As the day progressed, authorities in both countries continued to assess the situation. The Portuguese government established a working group to monitor the blackout, with Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro stating that it was an external issue originating from the transport network, affecting many European nations.
While some areas began to see a gradual restoration of power, the full recovery process was expected to take several hours. The Red Eléctrica de España indicated that energy supply was slowly being restored in the northern and southern parts of the peninsula, but a complete return to normalcy could take between six to ten hours.
In the meantime, residents took to social media to share their experiences. Videos surfaced showing the darkened metro stations in Madrid, while a tennis match at the Madrid Open had to be paused when the power went out, leaving players and fans in confusion.
In response to the crisis, both the Spanish and Portuguese governments convened emergency meetings to address what has been described as one of the worst blackouts in recent history. As officials continue to investigate the cause of the outage, citizens remain hopeful for a swift resolution to restore normalcy to their daily lives.
As the situation develops, the impact of the blackout is likely to resonate across the region, prompting discussions about the stability and security of power infrastructure in Europe. With so many people affected, the urgency for answers and solutions has never been more critical.
