A massive blackout that struck the Iberian Peninsula on Monday, April 28, 2025, has left Spain and Portugal grappling with unprecedented challenges. The blackout, which began around 12:33 PM, resulted in a sudden loss of 15 gigawatts of power—approximately 60% of the country's demand—leading to widespread disruptions across various sectors.
Transportation systems faced significant hurdles as roads, airports, metro lines, and trains came to a standstill. Hospitals were forced to rely on generators to maintain operations, further complicating the emergency response. Thousands of individuals found themselves stranded on railways and at airports, with the Military Emergency Unit (UME) and railway authorities assisting about 35,000 passengers affected by the sudden outage.
Pedro Sánchez, the President of the Government, addressed the nation late Monday evening, confirming that the situation was dire. He stated, "15 gigawatios se han perdido súbitamente" (15 gigawatts were lost suddenly), emphasizing that this incident was unprecedented in Spain's history. As investigations into the causes of the blackout commenced, Sánchez noted that no hypotheses were being ruled out.
In response to the crisis, various regional governments swiftly enacted measures to mitigate the impact on education and public services. The Community of Madrid announced that all public and charter schools would remain open on Tuesday, April 29, but without classes. This decision aimed to provide support for families in need, as explained by Sánchez: "El objetivo de la medida es garantizar la atención de los alumnos a los padres que lo necesiten" (The objective of the measure is to guarantee the care of students for parents who need it).
Castilla-La Mancha also suspended all morning school activities on Tuesday, with the Education Minister, Amador Pastor, citing uncertainty about the restoration of electrical service. He noted, "ante la incertidumbre" (given the uncertainty) regarding when power would be fully restored, the decision was made to cancel classes. Similar actions were taken in the Valencian Community, where classes were suspended after a request for a declaration of emergency was made to the Government.
In contrast, regions like Catalonia and Navarra planned to maintain normal class schedules, although Catalonia had already suspended university classes on Monday due to the blackout. Andalusia also indicated that classes would proceed unless significant issues arose overnight.
As the blackout continued to affect various regions, local authorities urged citizens to exercise caution. The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) reported that traffic lights and information panels were non-operational, leading to further complications on the roads. Citizens were advised to avoid unnecessary travel, particularly to Madrid, where access was severely restricted.
In Alicante, the city councils of both Alicante and Elche announced the suspension of classes for all educational institutions on Tuesday due to the blackout. The mayor of Elche, Pablo Ruz, explained that families did not have adequate time to prepare for the school day, stating, "no está garantizado al 100% el suministro" (the supply is not 100% guaranteed). Despite the suspension, public schools would remain open without teaching activities to ensure that students were cared for.
As the situation unfolded, reports indicated that some areas were gradually regaining power. By late Monday evening, the Red Eléctrica Española reported that approximately 48.2% of the demand had been restored, with 66% of the substation parks energized. However, many regions, including Ciudad Real and Cuenca, continued to experience outages.
Local governments mobilized resources to assist those affected. The train station in Alicante remained open overnight to accommodate stranded travelers, while the airport diverted and canceled flights due to the blackout's impact. The Universidad Miguel Hernández (UMH) in Elche suspended all academic activities until 3 PM on Tuesday as a precautionary measure.
In summary, the massive blackout has not only disrupted daily life across the Iberian Peninsula but also highlighted the need for robust emergency response mechanisms. Authorities continue to work tirelessly to restore power and ensure the safety and well-being of citizens.
As the recovery efforts progress, citizens are urged to remain patient and follow official guidance. The situation remains fluid, and updates from government officials will be crucial in navigating the aftermath of this unprecedented event.
