A widespread power outage struck Spain, Portugal, and parts of France on April 28, 2025, leaving millions without electricity and disrupting daily life across the Iberian Peninsula. The outage began around 12:30 PM Spanish time and was characterized by chaos in major cities, including Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville, where residents reported extensive service interruptions.
Initial reports suggest that the cause of the outage is still unknown, although some sources pointed to potential issues within the European power grid, possibly originating in France. The Spanish grid operator, Red Eléctrica Española (REE), confirmed that it activated emergency protocols in collaboration with its counterparts in Portugal (REN) and France (RTE) to restore power as quickly as possible.
As the outage unfolded, the Spanish government convened at the Moncloa Palace to monitor the situation and discuss intervention strategies. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Minister for Ecological Transition Sara Aagesen were seen heading to the REE control center around 1:30 PM, reflecting the urgency of the situation.
Reports indicated that the power outage affected not only residential areas but also critical infrastructure. Communication networks faced significant disruptions, leading authorities to urge residents not to make emergency calls due to overloaded telephone exchanges. In Lisbon and Madrid, metro systems were halted, with passengers trapped in tunnels and requiring evacuation. The Hospital de La Paz in Madrid also experienced disruptions, although it was able to rely on backup generators.
Airports in major cities, including Madrid, Sevilla, Barcelona, Malaga, and Pamplona, were reportedly impacted as well. While there were no large-scale flight cancellations reported immediately, the situation remained fluid, with some flights experiencing delays. For instance, Barcelona airport reported a complete power outage lasting about 30 seconds.
In a further complication, the Madrid Open tennis tournament, a prestigious event in the sports calendar, was interrupted, leaving spectators in the dark. Eyewitness accounts shared on social media captured the confusion, with fans expressing concern over the sudden loss of power.
By the afternoon, REE announced that it had begun restoring service in northern and southern Spain. The process of gradually reactivating the transmission network was underway, but officials warned that it would take time to fully restore power across the affected areas. Meanwhile, the Spanish Ministry of Health announced that non-urgent operations in hospitals would be postponed to ensure patient safety during the outage.
In addition to the disruptions in Spain and Portugal, isolated outages were reported in parts of France and Italy. French media noted that the impact was less severe, affecting only certain regions, such as Perpignan, with occasional power losses.
Some reports also indicated that a fire in southwestern France, specifically on Mount Alaric, may have damaged a high-voltage line, contributing to the widespread outages across the Iberian Peninsula. Data from energy operators showed a dramatic drop in electricity consumption, exceeding 10 gigawatts at the time of the outage.
As the situation developed, the Portuguese Ministry of Public Security did not rule out the possibility of a cyberattack as a cause of the disruptions. This speculation added another layer of concern, prompting further investigation into the nature of the outage.
In Santiago de Compostela, smoke clouds were observed rising from central locations, initially causing alarm among residents. Local authorities clarified that the smoke originated from generators in operation during the outage, dispelling fears of fires.
In Andorra, the power outage lasted only a few seconds due to automatic reconnection with the line from France, highlighting the varying impact across the region. However, in Spain, the chaos extended to public transportation, with trains halted mid-journey and thousands of passengers needing to be evacuated from metro stations.
As of the latest updates, the power supply was gradually being restored, but the full extent of the outage's impact remained unclear. The Red Eléctrica stated, "All available resources are being deployed to address the problem," emphasizing the commitment to resolving the crisis swiftly.
In the wake of the outage, residents expressed a mix of frustration and concern, with long lines forming outside supermarkets as people rushed to stock up on essentials. Social media was abuzz with reports of the blackout, as users shared their experiences and sought updates on the situation.
The incident on April 28, 2025, marked one of the largest power outages in recent European history, raising questions about the resilience of the energy infrastructure and the need for improvements to prevent future occurrences.
As authorities continue to investigate the cause and effects of this widespread blackout, citizens across Spain, Portugal, and France are left grappling with the immediate impacts while awaiting further updates on the restoration of services.
