On Monday, April 28, 2025, at approximately 12:30 PM, a massive blackout struck Spain, plunging the entire peninsula into darkness and disrupting transportation and communication systems. The power outage was so significant that it caused an estimated 60% of the total energy demand to vanish in just five seconds, equating to a loss of 15 gigawatts of electricity, according to government sources.
Eduardo Prieto, the director of Services to the Operation of Red Eléctrica Española, described the incident as "absolutely exceptional." He attributed the blackout to a strong oscillation in the power flow of the networks, the origin of which remains unknown. This oscillation led to Spain disconnecting from the European electrical system, creating a ripple effect that extended to Portugal as well.
As the blackout unfolded, major airports, including Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, were affected, leaving travelers stranded. The Madrid Metro experienced outages, with multiple trains left in darkness, and Cercanías services were halted due to the lack of electricity. Traffic lights across major cities went out, causing chaos on the roads, while hospitals in various regions, such as Materno Infantil in A Coruña and 12 de Octubre in Madrid, lost power.
By 1:33 PM, Red Eléctrica reported that they had started to recover tension in the northern and southern peninsular areas. However, the total recovery of the electrical system was estimated to take between six to ten hours. More than ten hours after the incident, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that nearly 50% of the supply had been restored.
Throughout the day, transportation services faced significant disruptions. Renfe reported that trains were "stopped and without departure in all stations," leaving thousands of passengers stranded. The blackout also rendered parts of Spain without internet access and mobile data, hampering communication through platforms like WhatsApp. The situation was particularly dire for those in the affected regions, as many were left without power, internet, or mobile service.
The blackout prompted the declaration of a national emergency in several autonomous communities, including Andalucía, Extremadura, and Madrid. The Ministry of the Interior confirmed that they would assume control of the crisis management in these regions. Emergency services were deployed across the country, with the UME (Military Emergency Unit) providing blankets to those stranded in Atocha and other areas.
In response to the crisis, the Comunidad de Madrid announced that public transportation, including bus services, would be free for the following day. The government also ensured that schools would remain open, despite suspending classes, to provide a safe space for families in need.
As the situation developed, the Spanish government maintained communication with NATO and other European partners to manage the crisis. Prime Minister Sánchez emphasized the need for citizens to minimize travel and follow official guidance during the emergency.
Meanwhile, the government of Portugal declared an energy crisis in response to the blackout, with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro stating that the origin of the outage was likely in Spain. He assured that they were working closely with Spanish authorities to better understand the situation.
By late evening, Red Eléctrica reported that 51% of the peninsular demand had been recovered. However, many regions remained in the dark, and the full restoration of power was projected to take time. The situation was compounded by the fact that electricity supply had been restored to only about 35% of the population in Andalucía, while other regions were still grappling with outages.
As the crisis unfolded, various reports indicated that hospitals were functioning on generators, and emergency services were actively responding to incidents related to the blackout. The Samur (Madrid Emergency Services) reported 167 interventions, primarily for respiratory issues and anxiety attacks caused by the chaos.
In the aftermath of the blackout, citizens began to express concerns about potential damages incurred during the outage, including spoiled food and disrupted travel plans. Enrique García, a spokesperson for the Consumers and Users Organization (OCU), noted that determining liability would be complicated, as the cause of the blackout was still unknown.
The blackout marked the worst electrical failure in Spain's history due to its extensive impact and the number of people affected. The last significant outage occurred on July 24, 2021, when a fault left hundreds of thousands without power for about 45 minutes.
As the night wore on, the government continued to work on restoring power and addressing the needs of those affected by the outage. The situation remained fluid, with many communities still awaiting electricity restoration.
In a show of solidarity, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered support to Spain, highlighting Ukraine's experience in managing energy crises due to ongoing conflicts. He expressed readiness to assist Spain in restoring its electrical grid.
As of late Monday night, the government was still grappling with the aftermath of the blackout, with various regions beginning to recover power while others remained dark. The complexity of the situation suggested that the full normalization of the electrical network could take up to a week, as technicians worked to rebalance the system and restore services.
In summary, the massive blackout that struck Spain on April 28, 2025, serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within the electrical grid and the critical need for robust infrastructure and emergency preparedness. As citizens await full restoration of services, government officials continue to investigate the causes and work towards ensuring such an event does not happen again.
