A significant power outage crippled major cities in Spain, Portugal, and parts of France on Monday, leading to widespread disruptions across transportation and public services.
Power Disruption Affects Millions in Spain, Portugal, and France
Power Disruption Affects Millions in Spain, Portugal, and France
Multi-country blackout causes chaos in transportation and emergency services
April 28, 2025, witnessed a massive blackout impacting millions across the Iberian Peninsula as critical infrastructure succumbed to power failures. Train services, airports, and traffic lights were among the key sectors shutdown, sparking chaos throughout the region. The precise cause of the outage remains undetermined; however, it appears related to issues within the European electricity grid.
Hospitals in Spain were forced to rely on backup power generators, while schools and banks in Portugal closed their doors amid the disruption. The Madrid Open tennis tournament saw several matches suspended as well.
Electricity supplier E-Redes stated that “the blackout also affected regions of Spain and France, due to faults in very high voltage lines.” Affected areas in Spain included Catalonia, Andalusia, and Extremadura among others, along with similar outages reported in the Basque Coast and Burgundy region of France.
Initial updates from Spain’s national power company, Red Eléctricia, indicated that some power was restored in the north and south of the country. Meanwhile, Portuguese Minister António Leitão Amaro confirmed to local media that investigations revealed no cyberattack behind the outage.
Renfe, the Spanish national rail provider, noted that trains had been halted nationwide at approximately 12:30 p.m. and local rail services, such as those in Valencia, faced complete disruptions as well.
Public life was paralyzed as restaurants ceased operations and entire communities endured long lines at ATMs, while some citizens sought refuge from the heat. Teresa Garcia, 92, was left waiting outside her home for power restoration, trapped by a broken elevator.
Airlines like EasyJet reported “ongoing power outages affecting multiple essential systems and airport infrastructure” in Spain, warning passengers of potential delays.
Despite these challenges, not all was halted; indoor flamenco classes continued uninterrupted as sunlight poured in through the windows. This evolving situation is closely monitored as recovery efforts progress, and updates will follow.
Hospitals in Spain were forced to rely on backup power generators, while schools and banks in Portugal closed their doors amid the disruption. The Madrid Open tennis tournament saw several matches suspended as well.
Electricity supplier E-Redes stated that “the blackout also affected regions of Spain and France, due to faults in very high voltage lines.” Affected areas in Spain included Catalonia, Andalusia, and Extremadura among others, along with similar outages reported in the Basque Coast and Burgundy region of France.
Initial updates from Spain’s national power company, Red Eléctricia, indicated that some power was restored in the north and south of the country. Meanwhile, Portuguese Minister António Leitão Amaro confirmed to local media that investigations revealed no cyberattack behind the outage.
Renfe, the Spanish national rail provider, noted that trains had been halted nationwide at approximately 12:30 p.m. and local rail services, such as those in Valencia, faced complete disruptions as well.
Public life was paralyzed as restaurants ceased operations and entire communities endured long lines at ATMs, while some citizens sought refuge from the heat. Teresa Garcia, 92, was left waiting outside her home for power restoration, trapped by a broken elevator.
Airlines like EasyJet reported “ongoing power outages affecting multiple essential systems and airport infrastructure” in Spain, warning passengers of potential delays.
Despite these challenges, not all was halted; indoor flamenco classes continued uninterrupted as sunlight poured in through the windows. This evolving situation is closely monitored as recovery efforts progress, and updates will follow.
