On Monday, April 28, 2025, a widespread power outage struck Spain, Portugal, and parts of France, plunging millions into darkness and disrupting daily life across the Iberian Peninsula. The blackout began at approximately 12:30 PM local time, leading to significant challenges for residents and authorities alike.
According to the Portuguese network operator Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN), the entire Iberian Peninsula was affected, with reports confirming that the outage impacted major cities and rural areas alike. In Spain, the electricity grid operator Red Eléctrica stated that power had been restored in several areas, including Catalonia, Aragon, the Basque Country, Galicia, Asturias, Navarre, Castile and Leon, Extremadura, and Andalusia. As of the evening of April 28, more than 20 percent of the energy supply had been restored.
In the wake of the blackout, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged citizens to remain calm during what he described as "critical hours." He emphasized the importance of using mobile phones only for essential calls and advised against speculating on the cause of the outage. Sánchez remarked, "Until the power supply is restored, we will experience some critical hours," during an address broadcasted on Spanish television.
The Spanish Interior Ministry responded to the emergency by deploying over 30,000 police officers to ensure public safety. The blackout created chaos in urban areas, with traffic signals failing and public transport systems coming to a standstill. Train services throughout Spain were suspended, and the Madrid Metro was evacuated as a precaution.
Reports indicated that many residents in cities like Madrid and Barcelona turned to their neighbors for assistance, sharing power banks and candles as they adapted to life without electricity. Emma Woelk, a resident of Barcelona, noted, "People are trying to help each other out as best they can. We’re all in this together.”
In Portugal, the situation was similarly dire. The Portuguese electricity supplier REN reported that approximately 750,000 out of 6.5 million connections had been reconnected, but major cities like Lisbon remained without power for much of the day. The power outage led to long queues at ATMs as residents sought to withdraw cash amidst fears of running out of supplies.
Authorities in both Spain and Portugal were quick to investigate the cause of the blackout. While some speculated about a potential cyberattack, EU Council President António Costa stated that there was currently no evidence to support such claims. The Spanish national cybersecurity authority, INCIBE, was actively investigating the situation, but preliminary reports indicated that extreme temperature fluctuations in Spain may have played a role in triggering the outage.
As the day progressed, power restoration efforts were underway, with Red Eléctrica estimating that full restoration could take between six to ten hours. Eduardo Prieto, head of the maintenance department at Red Eléctrica, described the incident as "exceptional," highlighting the unprecedented nature of the blackout.
In addition to the widespread disruption, the blackout also affected significant events, including the ongoing Masters-1000 tennis tournament in Madrid. A match between Bulgarian player Grigor Dimitrov and British player Jacob Fearnley was interrupted due to the outage, leaving fans and players alike in limbo.
Amidst the chaos, hospitals managed to maintain operations using backup generators, ensuring that medical services remained available despite the power issues. The Spanish Health Ministry reported no significant incidents related to patient care during the blackout.
As night fell, residents in areas where power had been restored celebrated the return of electricity. In Madrid, cheers erupted as lights flickered back on in the neighborhoods. Many took to the streets to express their relief, with sounds of jubilation echoing through the city. People sang the national anthem and shouted in celebration, marking a return to normalcy after hours of uncertainty.
Meanwhile, the Spanish government convened a crisis meeting to address the situation. Sánchez, accompanied by key ministers, monitored the restoration efforts and coordinated responses with international partners, including authorities in France and Morocco, who had offered assistance.
As the investigation into the cause of the blackout continues, the Spanish government emphasized the need for clear communication and cooperation among various agencies. Sánchez reassured citizens that the government was in contact with the royal family, parliamentary groups, and European partners to ensure a swift resolution.
In neighboring France, the blackout caused brief outages in the southern regions, but power was quickly restored. The French electricity grid operator, RTE, confirmed that households in the French Basque region experienced short-lived power interruptions.
In the small state of Andorra, the power outage lasted only seconds, thanks to an automatic reconnection from French power lines, showcasing the resilience of the regional energy infrastructure.
As Spain and Portugal work to recover from this significant disruption, residents remain hopeful for a swift return to normalcy. The events of April 28, 2025, will likely prompt discussions on energy security and infrastructure resilience across Europe.
