On April 29, 2025, educational institutions across Spain are facing significant disruptions due to a nationwide blackout that began the previous day. The Government of the Community of Madrid announced that all classes would be canceled, yet schools, colleges, and institutes will remain open to provide supervision for students whose parents require assistance. This decision aims to ensure that families have access to necessary support amidst the ongoing crisis.
According to reports, the blackout started at 12:29 PM on April 28, leaving all of Spain without power and causing widespread incidents, particularly affecting transportation. By 7 PM that evening, power began to gradually return to various regions, including the Community of Madrid.
The Ministry of Education, Science, and Universities in Madrid has instructed all public educational centers to stay open during the day, even though there will be no classes. Consequently, standardized tests scheduled for April 29 and 30 for approximately 280,000 students in primary and secondary education have been postponed.
In Castilla-La Mancha, the situation mirrors that of Madrid. Classes and scheduled medical appointments have been suspended for April 29, affecting nurseries, primary, secondary, and university education. Education Minister Amador Pastor explained that uncertainties regarding the availability of fuel for school transport and food services contributed to this decision. He emphasized the importance of avoiding congestion on transport routes and ensuring that schools are safe to operate once power is restored.
The blackout has also impacted healthcare services, with medical appointments canceled and hospitals relying on diesel-powered generators to maintain operations. While essential services are functioning, the Minister reassured that critical patient care in hospitals remains unaffected.
In Galicia, the regional government has requested a national emergency declaration as they navigate the ongoing crisis. Alfonso Rueda, the regional president, called for citizens to minimize unnecessary travel to conserve fuel. He also urged anyone dependent on respiratory devices to contact emergency services for assistance in recharging their equipment.
Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, addressed the media regarding the blackout, stating that no hypothesis about its cause has been ruled out. He urged citizens to limit their mobile phone usage to conserve battery life and only call emergency services in dire situations. Sánchez reassured the public that the government is actively working to restore power and ensure safety.
In the wake of the blackout, many restaurants in affected areas have been forced to close, unable to operate without electricity for cooking. Some establishments have resorted to cooking on open flames, highlighting the challenges faced by businesses during this crisis.
As the blackout continues to affect daily life, the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has advised against traveling unless absolutely necessary due to non-functioning traffic lights and signaling systems. The DGT emphasized the importance of caution on the roads, given the potential hazards posed by the outage.
In Catalonia, the situation remains dire, with Núria Parlón, the Minister of the Interior, reporting that 63% of the electrical demand had been restored by late evening on April 28. Despite this progress, many schools and universities have opted to suspend classes for April 29, citing uncertainties about transportation and safety.
Emergency services in Catalonia have been overwhelmed, with nearly 10,000 calls received by the 112 emergency hotline and 750 rescues conducted from elevators. The presence of police and emergency responders has been significantly increased to ensure public safety during this time of uncertainty.
In contrast, some regions, including the Basque Country, Cantabria, Navarra, and Murcia, have confirmed that classes will proceed as scheduled, as they have not been as severely affected by the blackout. Additionally, the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla will also maintain normal school operations.
The ongoing blackout has raised numerous questions among the public, particularly about work schedules and school operations. While many regions have announced their plans, others remain uncertain, leaving families in a state of confusion as they navigate the aftermath of this unprecedented electrical failure.
The Red Eléctrica company has issued statements indicating that efforts to restore power are ongoing, with expectations that the process could take between six to ten hours, depending on conditions. They have activated all necessary procedures to expedite the restoration of electricity across the affected areas.
As the situation develops, authorities continue to monitor power restoration efforts and provide updates to the public. The hope is that normalcy will soon return, allowing schools and businesses to resume their usual operations.
