State of emergency declared as power outage cripples Spain and Portugal

A sudden and unprecedented power outage plunged vast regions of Spain and Portugal into darkness on Monday, April 28, 2025, disrupting daily life for millions. The blackout, which began at 12:33 p.m. local time, halted public transportation, disabled communication networks, and led to widespread chaos across the Iberian

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that approximately 50% of the nation’s power supply had been restored by evening. He described the incident as a “sudden loss” of 15 gigawatts, about 60% of the country’s electricity demand at the time, marking it as an event of unparalleled magnitude in Spain’s history.

In Portugal, energy provider REN reported that electricity had been restored to 750,000 customers, including critical substations in Lisbon and Porto. However, officials warned that full normalisation could take up to a week, attributing the outage to a rare atmospheric phenomenon causing extreme voltage fluctuations.

Transportation and communication systems crippled

The blackout brought transportation to a standstill. In Spain, 11 trains remained stranded hours after the outage, with issues accessing certain areas complicating recovery efforts. Airports in both countries faced significant disruptions; Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport closed its arrivals hall, and flights were cancelled or delayed across the region.

Communication networks were also severely affected. Mobile phone services became unreliable, and internet access was disrupted, leaving many unable to obtain information or contact loved ones. Authorities urged citizens to limit mobile phone use to reduce strain on the networks.

Public response and government measures

The sudden loss of power led to widespread panic and confusion. In Madrid, commuter Sarah Jovovich recounted the chaos as lights went out in the metro station: “People were confused and hysterical; it was quite chaotic really.” With mobile phones down and no information available, many were left in the dark, both literally and figuratively.

In response, the Spanish government declared a state of emergency in affected regions, including Madrid, Andalusia, and Extremadura. Emergency services were deployed to manage the crisis, and citizens were advised to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.

Investigation and restoration efforts

While the exact cause of the blackout remains under investigation, initial reports suggest a significant oscillation in the European power grid may have triggered the failure. Both Spain and Portugal have ruled out cyberattacks as the cause. Efforts to restore power continue, with authorities estimating that full recovery could take several days.

Read more on Airbus unveils hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft