Officials in Spain and Portugal were urgently working to restore electricity after a massive power outage affected both countries on Monday, April 28, 2025. The sudden blackout grounded flights, paralyzed metro systems, disrupted mobile communications, and caused ATMs to shut down. By early Tuesday, power was gradually returning to various regions, although much of the Iberian Peninsula was left in darkness for hours.
As of 5 a.m., the Spanish electricity operator, Red Eléctrica, reported that over 92% of energy demand had been restored. Many residents in cities like Madrid had spent the night in total darkness, and the iconic Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona became barely visible against the night sky. Despite the slow return of power, many individuals faced ongoing challenges with communication as mobile phone services remained unreliable.
Stranded at train stations and airports, thousands of people found themselves in precarious situations as metro services ceased and urban life came to a standstill. Images broadcasted by Spanish national TV depicted commuters escaping stalled trains in darkened tunnels. Emergency responders were able to rescue around 35,000 passengers trapped along railways and underground. However, by late Monday night, several trains were still waiting for evacuation, compounding the anxiety of commuters.
Many residents expressed their frustration and fear; a French tourist, Curt Muriel, shared her concerns about safety and uncertainty after being forced to navigate the dark subway and find a cab to reach Madrid’s city center. The outage transformed various places such as sports centers, train stations, and airports into makeshift shelters, with individuals like British tourist Ian Cannons stuck overnight at Lisbon Airport due to the internet outage that hindered communication.
In response to the crisis, the Barcelona municipality distributed 1,200 cots at indoor recreation centers to accommodate those stranded overnight. Across major cities like Barcelona and Madrid, people were seen sleeping on benches and floors in transport hubs. As internet and mobile phone services faltered, there was a surge in demand for battery-powered radios, while long lines formed at the few supermarkets with operational backup generators, as people rushed to stock up on essentials.
Moreover, residents faced significant inconveniences, especially those with medical needs relying on electricity for vital equipment like insulin refrigeration and oxygen concentrators. While some hospitals managed to stay open with generator support, a considerable portion of the population struggled with basic survival necessities. With ATMs and some online banking services down, locals found themselves scrounging for cash, further complicating their situation.
The cause of this unprecedented blackout, which cut 15 gigawatts—equivalent to 60% of Spain's national demand—within mere seconds, remained unclear. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that this level of widespread electrical failure across the Iberian Peninsula was unprecedented. Portugal's National Cybersecurity Center ruled out the possibility of a cyber attack, while Teresa Ribera from the European Commission dismissed sabotage allegations as well, characterizing the incident as one of the most severe power outages recorded in Europe in recent times.
In summary, the extensive power outage left millions grappling with chaos as officials work tirelessly to restore normalcy across Spain and Portugal. The situation rapidly escalated into a crisis for residents, tourists, and emergency services alike, highlighting vulnerabilities in essential utility infrastructures and communication during unforeseen large-scale failures.
