On April 28, 2025, a widespread power outage affected Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and parts of southern France, leaving tens of millions without electricity. The blackout, which began around 12:30 PM CEST, disrupted daily life across the Iberian Peninsula, including transportation, healthcare, and telecommunications. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council to address the crisis .
Cause and Response
Spanish grid operator Red Eléctrica described the incident as “exceptional,” estimating that full restoration could take between 6 to 10 hours, though complete recovery might require up to a week in Portugal . The Portuguese grid operator REN attributed the outage to a rare atmospheric phenomenon causing voltage oscillations, potentially exacerbated by a fire damaging a high-voltage line in southern France . Cyberattack investigations are also underway .
Impact Across the Region
- Spain: Major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville experienced power outages. Renfe reported a nationwide grid failure, and Madrid’s Barajas Airport lost power. Nuclear plants were automatically disconnected, and internet connectivity dropped to 17% of normal levels .
- Portugal: Lisbon Metro, trains, and traffic lights halted. Hospitals operated on generators, and Lisbon Airport closed temporarily. The government held an emergency meeting to coordinate the response .
- France: The Basque region experienced a brief power disruption .
Transportation Disruptions
In Dublin, five flights to and from Spain and Portugal were canceled, with six others delayed between 30 minutes and three hours due to the power outages .
Ongoing Efforts
Authorities continue to work on restoring power, with Red Eléctrica focusing on re-establishing grid stability and REN prioritizing critical infrastructure in Portugal . The situation remains fluid, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
