On April 28, 2025, a massive power outage struck large parts of Spain and Portugal, marking one of the most significant electrical failures in the history of both nations. The blackout began around 12:30 PM, leaving millions without electricity and causing widespread disruption to daily life.
The Spanish Ministry of the Interior promptly declared a state of emergency, with regions such as Madrid, Andalusia, and Extremadura requesting assistance from the central government to maintain public order. As the crisis unfolded, emergency services in Madrid executed 286 interventions to rescue individuals trapped in elevators, highlighting the immediate human impact of the outage.
According to the Spanish grid operator Red Eléctrica, approximately 35 percent of the power supply had been restored by the evening of April 28, but full recovery was expected to take between six to ten hours. Meanwhile, the Portuguese electricity operator REN reported that the power outage was likely caused by a rare atmospheric phenomenon, leading to significant fluctuations in electrical voltages. This phenomenon, described as 'induced atmospheric vibration,' disrupted the interconnected European electricity network, resulting in a domino effect that affected both countries.
As the blackout persisted, public transportation systems ground to a halt. The Spanish Minister of Transport announced that intercity trains would not resume operations on the day of the outage, adding to the chaos as stranded passengers were left waiting at train stations. In Madrid, reports emerged of travelers stuck on trains for hours, with some recounting experiences of being trapped without power in the cars.
Air travel was also severely impacted. While Spanish airports managed to remain partially operational by utilizing emergency generators, officials indicated that flight departures and arrivals were reduced by approximately 20 percent for safety reasons. Over 200 flights were canceled or delayed at Lisbon Airport, prompting the Portuguese aviation authority to advise against traveling to airports until the situation stabilized.
In response to the crisis, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez assured the public that the government was working diligently to restore electricity. "The supply has already been restored in various areas in the north and south of the peninsula thanks to interconnections with France and Morocco," he stated during a press briefing. Despite these efforts, he acknowledged that the cause of the outage remained unclear, and investigations were ongoing.
The European Commission was closely monitoring the situation, maintaining communication with national authorities in both Spain and Portugal. Teresa Ribera, the European Commission's Vice President for the Green Transition, emphasized that there was no evidence to suggest the outage was intentional. "There is nothing to indicate that this was deliberate," she said in a statement.
As the night progressed, reports indicated that power was gradually being restored in several regions, including parts of the Basque Country and areas of Catalonia and Andalusia. However, the situation in Lisbon remained precarious, with REN estimating that it could take several hours before the capital regained full electrical service.
Local businesses were severely affected by the outage, with shops and supermarkets shutting their doors as they lost power. In Porto, the owner of a lamp store noted a surge in demand for flashlights, stating, "I have already sold fifteen flashlights," as residents scrambled to find alternative light sources. The chaos extended to supermarkets in Lisbon, where customers faced long lines and limited options as cash transactions became the only means of payment.
In the midst of the turmoil, hospitals operated on backup generators, ensuring that critical care continued without interruption. The Spanish Minister of Health reported no significant incidents related to the outage in medical facilities, highlighting the preparedness of healthcare systems in the face of such emergencies.
As authorities worked to assess the extent of the damage and restore services, citizens were urged to limit their use of phones to avoid overwhelming telecommunications networks. The mayor of Madrid advised residents to remain in place and avoid unnecessary travel, emphasizing the importance of keeping roads clear for emergency services.
The situation in both countries serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of modern infrastructure and the interconnectedness of electrical grids across Europe. With the cause of the outage still under investigation, officials from both Spain and Portugal are committed to uncovering the truth behind this unprecedented event.
As recovery efforts continue, the focus now shifts to ensuring that such a large-scale failure does not happen again. With support from neighboring countries and the European Union, Spain and Portugal aim to bolster their electrical systems and enhance their resilience against future disruptions.
