A massive power outage struck the Iberian Peninsula on April 28, 2025, affecting large parts of Spain and Portugal, along with sections of France and Andorra. The blackout, which began shortly after noon, paralyzed public transport and caused widespread chaos across major cities, including Madrid, Barcelona, and Lisbon.
According to reports from the Spanish electricity grid operator Red Eléctrica Española, the outage left between 30,000 and 35,000 passengers stranded on trains as the entire national rail network came to a halt. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged citizens to remain calm and advised them to stay at home, using their mobile phones only when absolutely necessary.
As the situation unfolded, Sánchez described the event as an "electricity crisis" caused by "strong fluctuations" in supply. He emphasized that the restoration of power in various regions was aided by the cooperation of French and Moroccan authorities. During a press conference, he stated, "We are aware of the enormous impact of today’s events on people’s lives and the economic losses incurred due to the blackout."
At the peak of the outage, the Spanish national railway company Renfe reported that all train services were suspended, with 116 trains stranded at various stations. In Toro, near Zamora, emergency services evacuated 480 passengers from a high-speed train, while another 230 passengers were provided with water on a halted train near Venta de Baños, where a passenger with multiple sclerosis required assistance.
Traffic was also severely impacted, as traffic lights failed across cities, leading to gridlock on major highways. The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, urged residents to limit their movements and stay where they were to facilitate emergency services. Meanwhile, chaotic scenes unfolded in supermarkets as panic buying ensued, with many residents scrambling to stock up on water and other essentials due to concerns about access to running water.
In a statement to the media, Sánchez reassured the public that hospitals were functioning normally, thanks to backup power systems. However, he cautioned that restoring power could take between six to ten hours. Reports indicated that some regions, including Catalonia, Aragon, and the Basque Country, had begun to restore power by late afternoon.
Despite the serious disruptions, the Balearic and Canary Islands remained unaffected by the outage, as their power supply comes from independent networks. In Andorra, the blackout lasted only a few seconds, quickly resolved by automatic reconnection with the French power grid.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the outage, with some reports suggesting it may have been linked to a fault in the high-voltage line between Spain and France. However, the possibility of a cyberattack has not been ruled out, prompting Spain's national cybersecurity agency to launch an investigation.
Meanwhile, the EU Commission and local authorities are working collaboratively to understand the incident and restore normalcy. The Portuguese electricity provider REN stated that the outages in Portugal were due to a fault in the Spanish grid, exacerbated by a rare atmospheric phenomenon that caused synchronization errors across the European interconnected grid.
As the situation continues to develop, the Spanish government has declared a national emergency in affected regions and is mobilizing resources to manage the crisis. The public is being advised to stay informed through official channels and to use emergency services only in critical situations.
In summary, the widespread power outage has highlighted vulnerabilities in the electricity supply systems of the Iberian Peninsula, sparking discussions about infrastructure resilience and emergency preparedness in the face of unforeseen events.
