On Monday, a massive power outage struck both Spain and Portugal, bringing train services, airports, and other vital infrastructure to a standstill and causing widespread disruption across the region. Energy authorities attributed the blackout to a failure within the European power grid.
The exact cause of the outage remained unclear initially. António Leitão Amaro, Portugal’s Minister of State for the Presidency, stated on national radio that there was no evidence suggesting the blackout was the result of a cyberattack.
E-Redes, Portugal’s national energy provider, confirmed that the interruption was caused by a problem in the European electricity network.
Electricity authorities reported working swiftly to restore power throughout the day.
Spain’s national electricity company, Red Eléctrica, announced on social media around 3:30 p.m. local time that voltage had been recovered in substations across northern, southern, and western parts of the peninsula. Representatives declined to comment on the blackout’s full scope or its underlying cause.
The outage briefly extended into France, where RTE, the French grid operator, said some homes in the Basque region experienced a short loss of power, which has since been fully restored.
Millions across the Iberian Peninsula felt the impact of the blackout as emergency plans were activated. Spanish officials convened a meeting of the National Security Council on the same day to address the crisis.
Long lines formed outside ATMs amid widespread internet and telephone network disruptions throughout Spain and Portugal.
Spain’s traffic authority urged motorists to avoid traveling where possible, noting that the power failure rendered traffic lights and electronic signage inoperative.
Key institutions shifted to emergency operations: Spanish hospitals relied on backup generators, Portuguese banks and schools temporarily closed, and tennis matches at the Madrid Open were suspended.
Transport operators sought to manage public expectations and warn of ongoing service interruptions.
Renfe, Spain’s national railway company, announced on social media that at 12:30 p.m. there was a total power cut across the national grid, causing trains to halt at all stations. Metro services were also disrupted in several cities, including Valencia and Madrid.
Airline EasyJet informed passengers that Spanish airports were experiencing repeated power outages affecting multiple essential systems and airport infrastructure, leading to expected delays described as extraordinary and beyond the airline’s control.
As daylight persisted, tens of millions across the region grappled with the disruptions.
In Lisbon, residents rushed to grocery stores to stock up on water and supplies. Many major supermarkets closed by Monday afternoon, while smaller shops struggled to replenish rapidly emptying shelves.
In Peniche, a coastal town about 80 kilometers north of Lisbon, only one grocery store remained open by Wednesday afternoon, with dozens lining up at every checkout.
Elsewhere in Peniche, André Lima, 33, waited at an ATM with around 50 others. Lima, who works at a senior care facility, expressed concern over oxygen supplies for some residents.
"There are people whose lives depend on electricity," he remarked.
In Murcia, southeastern Spain, pedestrian crossing signals and traffic lights went dark, though some drivers proceeded cautiously. Several restaurants ceased service, and churches closed their doors.
Ninety-two-year-old Teresa García sat in a wheelchair outside her home around lunchtime, waiting for the power to return so she could use the elevator to reach her apartment.
At the Apostle Santiago Chapel, a small group of worshippers gathered in darkness, lighting candles at the altar and praying for those affected by the blackout, including individuals trapped in elevators.
Despite the outage, bright midday sunlight filled the spaces. Flamenco classes continued for a time, with participants practicing by the natural light streaming through the windows.
