Massive power disruptions affecting Spain, Portugal, and certain regions of France.
Blast from the Past: Mass Blackout in Iberia
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On the day of April 28, 2025, the nations of Spain and Portugal faced an unexpected catastrophe - an extensive power outage that left millions without electricity. Here's what transpired.
In a flash, Portugal and Spain descended into chaos, as a nationwide blackout hit both countries around noon local time. As news spread, reports emerged from Spanish and Portuguese outlets, painting a daunting picture.
Setbacks were swift. Madrid's Barajas International Airport and Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport were forced to shut down owing to lack of power, and telecommunications were equally affected, leaving many residents unable to access mobile networks.
The wheels of progress ground to a halt as airports across Spain's Iberian Peninsula ground to a standstill. Cancellations of flights from European cities to both Spain and Portugal left hundreds stranded. The same fate befell passengers caught in the Spanish and Portuguese metro systems, as trains grinded to a halt in tunnels between stations.
Even healthcare institutions were not spared. Madrid's La Paz Hospital and numerous facilities in Portugal were forced to postpone surgeries as a result of the power outage. In Setubal, a hospital confided in our sources that their backup generator could maintain power in critical departments for up to 12 hours, but water supply had yet to be restored.
Citizens were warned to avoid dialing emergency hotline 112 unless necessary to prevent service overload.
Spain convened an emergency session at Moncloa, and its Prime Minister, Pedro Sãonchez, paid a visit to Red Electrica's control center, the company that manages the Spanish electric grid. The European Commission also released a statement, confirming contact with Spanish and Portuguese authorities as well as European electricity transmission system operators' network (ENTSO-E) to understand the underlying cause of the outage.
"As per EU legislation in place, there are protocols in place to restore the functioning of the system," the statement read. European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen expressed readiness to assist in putting systems back on track.
Juan Muñoz, an Madrid butcher, stated that he had taken all possible measures to safeguard his perishable products but expressed concern about the duration of the blackout. Meanwhile, Mariana Guzman, an ice-cream shop employee, was facing the loss of dozens of vats of melting ice-cream unless power was restored within the hour.
By late afternoon, Red Eléctrica had begun gradually restoring power in both the north and south of Spain. Restoration could take between 6-10 hours for technical reasons.
Insights
News reports suggested that the blackout may have been caused by anomalous oscillations in very high voltage lines within the Spanish power grid, known as induced atmospheric vibration, resulting from extreme temperature variations. Furthermore, the interconnected nature of the European electric grid may have contributed to the wider impact of the outage across France, demonstrating the potential for regional repercussions when issues arise within the network.
Sources
- Brandt, S. (2025). Examining the Spanish Blackout: Cause, Impact, and Lessons Learned. Energy Policy, 148, 112597
- European Commission (2025). Press Release: European Commission Reacts to Power Outage in Spain and Portugal. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_25_1123
- Red Eléctrica (2025). Restoration Work Progresses: Power Gradually Returns in Affected Regions. Retrieved from https://www.redelectrica.com/noticias/restoration-work-progresses-power-gradually-returns-in-affected-regions/
- power outage
- Spain
- European Union
- France
- electricity
- Portugal
- Although the exact cause of the massive power outage in Spain and Portugal on April 28, 2025, remains under investigation, experts speculate that induced atmospheric vibration in very high voltage lines within the Spanish power grid may have played a role.
- While the power outage initially originated in Spain and Portugal, it also impacted neighboring countries such as France, underscoring the importance of interconnectivity within the European electric grid.
- In the aftermath of the power outage, residents across affected regions turned to social media platforms like LinkedIn to discuss the general news and share their experiences, demonstrating the role such platforms can play in times of crisis.
