On April 28, 2025, a widespread power outage struck Catalonia and the rest of Spain, sparking chaos and confusion across the region. Passengers aboard a Ferrocarriles de la Generalitat train found themselves trapped in the Vallvidrera tunnel, forced to evacuate on foot due to the blackout, which impacted all of Spain except the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla, as well as parts of Portugal, southern France, and Germany. The blackout was confirmed to be general by Endesa, the electricity supplier, which anticipated that Red Eléctrica, the public operator, would restore service soon.
In response to the crisis, Protecció Civil activated the Procicat emergency plan, urging the public to reserve calls to the 112 emergency number for actual emergencies only. The Rodalies train service was suspended, leaving many commuters stranded. The Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya announced the suspension of academic activities for the following day due to mobility issues caused by the power outage.
As the night progressed, it became clear that the situation was dire. Six people spent the night in Fira de Girona, where the local government had set up emergency accommodations for those unable to return home after train services were halted. Aena reported that all airports were operational by 7:00 AM on April 29, 2025, although travelers were advised to check the status of public transport to reach the airports.
By Tuesday morning, Endesa confirmed that the electrical grid in Catalonia was functioning normally again. Salvador Illa, the President of the Generalitat, led a crisis committee meeting at 7:40 AM, emphasizing the need for calm and coordination as the region began to recover from the blackout.
Since the blackout began, the emergency telephone service received 13,177 calls; a staggering 11,519 of those were made between noon and midnight on April 28. The situation had escalated to the point where nine autonomous communities suspended classes the following day, with the DGT advising citizens to avoid driving unless absolutely necessary.
In Madrid, the metro service resumed at 8:00 AM on April 29, and all urban and interurban bus lines were reported to be operating normally. The Council of Nuclear Safety confirmed that all nuclear power plants had deactivated their internal emergency plans after recovering external power.
Emergency services were stretched thin, with reports indicating that the Bomberos of Catalunya conducted five rescues related to generator intoxications and received a total of 755 alerts throughout the day. The blackout also resulted in 344 flight cancellations out of approximately 6,000 planned in Spanish airports.
Approximately 35,000 people spent the night trapped on railway lines across Spain, with many having to rely on makeshift accommodations. The FGC and metro services in Barcelona managed to recover normal operations by the morning of April 29, but the Rodalies network continued to experience disruptions.
Red Eléctrica reported that by 6:00 AM, 99.16% of electrical demand had been restored, with energy production reaching 21,265 MW. Antonio Carmona, the director of Rodalies, explained that while high-speed trains between Madrid and Barcelona were operational, the Rodalies network remained suspended due to electrical instability.
As the crisis unfolded, political leaders responded to the situation with urgency. Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, and his vice presidents met with Beatriz Corredor, the president of Red Eléctrica, to coordinate efforts for recovery. Sánchez reported that approximately 30,000 people had been rescued from trains, with only eleven trains still pending rescue.
The blackout's origins remained unclear, with Sánchez noting that at 12:33 PM, 15 gigawatts of electricity had vanished from the grid in just five seconds—a loss equivalent to 60% of current energy consumption. Questions arose regarding potential causes, including technical failures, cyberattacks, or unusual weather phenomena.
The situation prompted public concern over accountability, as many citizens wondered if they could claim damages for lost transportation or spoiled food. Enrique García, a spokesperson for the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU), indicated that without knowing the blackout's causes, determining responsibility was difficult. He suggested that it might be classified as a force majeure event, meaning companies might not be liable for service interruptions.
As the recovery efforts continued, the Generalitat reported that by 11:00 PM on April 28, around 63% of Catalonia's electricity supply had been restored, benefiting over 2.5 million customers. The consellera of Interior, Núria Parlon, confirmed that schools would open as normal the following day, and she urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel.
In Barcelona, the local government set up 1,200 emergency beds across four municipal sports centers to accommodate those stranded by the blackout. Mayor Jaume Collboni emphasized the importance of maintaining public order and security during the crisis, deploying patrols to prevent thefts in areas without electricity.
The blackout, described as unprecedented, drew international attention, with media outlets covering the chaos across the Iberian Peninsula. As recovery efforts progressed, the public remained hopeful for a return to normalcy, although the situation remained fluid and unpredictable.
As the sun rose on April 29, the atmosphere was one of cautious optimism. While many services were returning to normal, the impact of the blackout would likely be felt for days to come, as citizens processed the chaos and disruption of the previous night.
