On April 28, 2025, a massive power outage struck Spain, Portugal, and parts of France at 12:30 PM, causing widespread chaos and confusion among citizens. The blackout was triggered by a sudden loss of 15 gigawatts of energy, approximately 60% of the country's demand at that time, as explained by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. As of the early hours of April 29, more than 99% of the electrical demand had been restored, with a total of 18,563 megawatts (MW) back online, according to updated data from Red Eléctrica.
In the aftermath of the outage, various regions faced challenges in returning to normalcy. Some metro and train lines were still experiencing disruptions, highlighting the ongoing impact of the blackout. Sánchez stated that the authorities were analyzing all potential causes of the outage without ruling out any hypotheses.
The situation prompted immediate responses from government and industry leaders. Germany's acting Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, called for increased protection of critical infrastructure, emphasizing the unprecedented scale of the power cuts in the Iberian Peninsula. "The electricity outages in Spain and Portugal were of a scale that we have probably never seen before in Europe," she remarked.
In Spain, Sánchez held an emergency meeting with private electricity sector operators to discuss the incident and thanked them for their efforts in restoring power. He urged collaboration with the government to identify the causes of the outage and implement necessary improvements to ensure the future competitiveness of the electrical system.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior deactivated the level 3 emergency alert in six communities: Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, Comunidad Valenciana, Galicia, Murcia, and La Rioja. However, the alert remained active in Extremadura and Madrid, where local leaders expressed concerns about the stability of the national electrical system.
In Extremadura, President María Guardiola stated that the region would not request de-escalation until the government could guarantee stability. In contrast, the Valencian government requested to lower the emergency level to 2, citing improvements in the situation.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, praised the civility of citizens during the outage and thanked security forces for maintaining order. "Yesterday, citizens across Spain, Portugal, and parts of France faced an unprecedented blackout. I would like to congratulate them for the calm and civility they demonstrated," she said.
In political circles, opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo criticized the government's communication regarding the blackout, stating that the available information was neither clarifying nor verified. He called for the government to provide explanations to the public. Polish President Andrzej Duda also highlighted the vulnerability of energy networks and announced a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss Poland's energy security in light of the incident.
The blackout had significant repercussions on transportation, with over 40 flights between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco canceled due to the outage. As a result, many travelers found themselves stranded, with the Adolfo Suárez-Madrid Barajas Airport becoming a focal point for those affected.
Telecommunications companies, including Telefónica, Vodafone, MasOrange, and Digi, reported recovering over 95% of their services shortly after the outage. However, disruptions persisted in various areas, particularly in commuter train services in Cádiz, Seville, and Málaga, which remained suspended due to electrical issues.
In the realm of public services, Madrid's hospitals managed to perform 982 interventions during the blackout, with emergency services operating despite the power loss. The General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) suspended procedural deadlines for two days but allowed judges to decide on the suspension of non-urgent proceedings.
As the situation unfolded, the European Commission announced plans for an independent report on the blackout, with a preliminary technical version due within six months and a final study by September 2026. This report aims to provide clarity on the incident and help prevent future occurrences.
In a related development, the Spanish government authorized the release of three days' worth of strategic oil reserves as a precautionary measure against potential shortages stemming from the outage. This decision reflects the government's commitment to ensuring energy security in the wake of the incident.
Local authorities in Mauritania confirmed disturbances in telecommunications services due to the blackout, while the meat industry in Spain reported direct losses of up to 190 million euros. The organization representing small and medium-sized enterprises (Pimec) estimated economic losses of around 866 million euros in Catalonia alone due to the blackout.
As the investigation into the causes of the outage continues, Red Eléctrica indicated that preliminary assessments pointed to a drop in solar generation as a possible factor. The company reported two disconnections in the southwest of Spain occurring just a second and a half apart, which contributed to the outage.
In the wake of the incident, Sánchez emphasized the need for reforms to prevent a recurrence of such an event. He stated that the government would demand accountability from private operators involved in the energy sector. "What happened yesterday cannot happen again," he asserted.
As Spain slowly returns to normalcy, the government faces pressure to provide clear answers regarding the causes of the blackout. With the emergency protocols still active, citizens remain vigilant, hoping for swift action and transparency from their leaders.
