Power failure extends across Spain and Portugal, leaving millions in darkness since Monday
Blackout Chaos Across Spain and Portugal: A Widespread Power Outage Exposed
On Monday afternoon, the Iberian Peninsula was hit by a massive power outage, leaving millions of people in the dark across wide regions of Spain and Portugal.
Grid operator Red Eléctrica confirmed that efforts to revive power were underway in the north and south, but the root cause remains under investigation[2]. Reporters from various outlets, including the German Press Agency, reported a total power loss in Madrid and Barcelona, causing a cascade of issues on infrastructure and mobile networks[3]. Traffic lights were out, elevators in train stations, airports, and other buildings were silent, and internet connectivity was affected. Fortunately, hospitals managed to stay functional thanks to generators[3].
The Masters 1000 tennis tournament in Madrid was forced to nose-dive due to the blackout.
Transportation Tumbles, Traffic Lights Flicker
Disruption to travel and traffic dominated southern Europe as Spain's national railway operator, Renfe, announced all trains were halted due to the shutdown of the national power grid at 12:30 PM local time[3]. Spain's airport operator, Aena, reported interruptions, but emergency generators were activated. Passengers should verify updates with their respective airlines for further ground travel guidance[3]. Train commuters faced a frustrating day, as the blackout was also noted to be limited to mainland Spain, sparing the Canary and Balearic islands[3].
In brief instances, the Pyrenean principality of Andorra and parts of France were affected as well. Andorra Power Utilities (FEDA) reported a mere seconds-long outage, caused by another disturbance source on the Spanish side[2]. RTE, France's power grid operator, noted that a temporary interruption affected residences in the French part of the Basque Country yet the power was restored swiftly[2].
Spectacular "Induced Atmospheric Vibration" - The Culprit?
An extensive power outage engulfed Portugal too, affecting residents from north to south[2]. Portuguese grid operator REN Linked the disruption in the Spanish grid to a "rare atmospheric phenomenon," which caused oscillations in the high-voltage power lines[2]. Although it might take up to a week to achieve normalization of the network due to the complexities of the phenomenon, efforts are being prioritized to ensure network safety and stability[2].
It's essential to acknowledge that early reports had not yet fully ruled out the possibility of a cyberattack[2]. However, subsequent reports from the Portuguese grid operator have stated that the disruption in the Spanish grid was due to an "induced atmospheric vibration"[2].
This article was initially published on April 28, 2025, at 5:02 PM.[2]
[1] Enrichment Data (Non-exclusive, 5%)[2] Enrichment Data (Non-exclusive, 10%)
- The outages, caused by an induced atmospheric vibration, also affected regions of Portugal, leaving residents from north to south in the dark.
- The disruption in the Spanish grid, initially suspected to be a cyberattack, was later attributed to a rare atmospheric phenomenon.
- Apart from Spain and Portugal, brief instances of power outages were reported in Andorra and parts of France.
- In the general-news category, politics and crime-and-justice stories competed with reports of widespread power outages across the Iberian Peninsula.
- Accidents related to traffic lights and transportation were frequent due to the blackout, particularly in Spain, causing disruptions in travel and mobile networks.
