A significant power outage struck Spain and parts of France on April 28, 2025, leaving millions without electricity and causing widespread chaos. The outage, which began around noon local time, disrupted daily life across multiple cities, including Madrid and Lisbon. Reports of the incident indicated that the event was linked to issues with the electrical connection between France and Spain, a problem highlighted by Cristian Ruiz of Eurelectric during an interview on BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight.
Ruiz explained that there was a "specific event with the interconnection system between France and Spain" that led to the blackout. This incident effectively severed Spain's electrical grid from the broader European network. While this connectivity failure was a major factor, Ruiz cautioned that it was not the sole cause, suggesting that other issues contributed to the outage.
The situation escalated quickly, leading to significant disruptions. The Spanish Minister of Transportation, Óscar Puente, reported that 11 trains were stuck due to the blackout, while many traffic lights failed, creating dangerous conditions on the roads. As a result, authorities advised residents in Madrid to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.
By Monday evening, around 50% of the power supply had been restored, according to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. However, the emergency status remained in place across various regions, with local authorities able to request special status as needed. Sánchez urged caution, advising the public not to speculate on the cause of the outage until investigations were complete. Meanwhile, Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro confirmed that there were "no signs indicating" a cyberattack.
The blackout had immediate repercussions for transportation. The Madrid Open tennis tournament was canceled, and flights were heavily disrupted, with EasyJet reporting delays at both Lisbon and Madrid airports. The flight tracking company Cirium noted that a total of 96 flights from Portugal and 45 from Spain were affected.
As the outage persisted, residents faced considerable challenges. Many people were trapped in elevators, with reports indicating that 286 individuals in the Community of Madrid required rescue. In the chaos, some citizens took to social media to share their experiences, including Sarah Jovovich, who described the panic in a subway station as lights went out. "People were in a state of shock and confusion," she recounted. "It was truly chaotic."
In addition to transportation issues, businesses faced significant disruptions. Some IKEA stores in Spain resorted to using backup generators, while others closed their doors entirely. The outage also affected cash transactions, as many ATMs went offline, leaving people scrambling for cash.
Reports indicate that the power outage was not isolated to Spain; some regions in France were also impacted. However, areas such as the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands remained unaffected. As the situation unfolded, it became clear that the ramifications of the blackout were extensive and would require significant efforts to address.
By the following day, April 29, 2025, Spain's airport authority, Aena, reported that flights were gradually returning to normal, although the effects of the outage were still being felt. The incident served as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in electrical infrastructure and the potential for widespread disruption when systems fail.
As investigations continue, both Spanish and Portuguese officials are working diligently to determine the exact causes of the outage and to ensure that systems are fortified against future occurrences. The European Union's president, Antonio Costa, reiterated that there was no evidence of a cyberattack, emphasizing the need for thorough analysis to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The power outage on April 28, 2025, will likely be remembered as a significant event in recent history, illustrating the interconnectedness of modern infrastructure and the potential for chaos when that connectivity is disrupted. As recovery efforts progress, the focus will remain on restoring full service and understanding the underlying issues that led to this alarming incident.
