On April 28, 2025, a significant power outage disrupted daily life in Spain and Portugal, leading to widespread chaos and the declaration of a state of emergency in Spain. The blackout affected major cities, including Madrid and Lisbon, leaving millions without electricity. By Tuesday morning, reports indicated that power had been largely restored, although the exact cause of the outage remains undetermined.
In response to the crisis, the Spanish government convened emergency meetings with the Portuguese Cabinet. The Interior Ministry promptly declared a state of emergency, which allowed for increased governmental control in affected regions. As restoration efforts progressed, officials reported that over 99% of the electricity supply was back online in Spain by early Tuesday, significantly alleviating concerns about public safety and order.
The situation in Portugal improved as well, with the national grid operator, REN, announcing on April 29 that the entire power grid had been stabilized. All substations of the national transport network were re-energized, affirming that the power supply was returning to normalcy. A REN spokesperson confirmed that power substations were operational before midnight on the same day.
As restoration efforts continued, the Spanish grid operator, Red Electrica de España (REE), reported that by April 29, approximately 92% of electricity demand on the mainland had been restored. This rapid recovery of electricity was crucial, as around 18,563 megawatts of power demand was met after the initial blackout.
The massive blackout had a profound impact on transportation systems in both countries. Eleven trains in Spain remained stranded with passengers onboard, prompting a call for assistance from the Spanish Transport Minister, Oscar Puente. Meanwhile, air traffic faced significant disruptions, as airline Iberia canceled numerous flights due to the power outage, and airport operations in Lisbon were delayed.
While the exact cause of the blackout was still under investigation, reports suggested that a failure in the interconnection between the power grids of Spain and France may have triggered the outage. Officials from both nations ruled out foul play, emphasizing the importance of understanding the technical failures that led to this significant disruption.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez addressed the nation, assuring citizens that efforts were being made to restore power as quickly as possible. He highlighted that connections with neighboring countries had been partially restored and expressed gratitude for the cooperation of France and Morocco in addressing the crisis. Sanchez urged the public to remain calm and responsible as recovery efforts proceeded.
The power outage across Spain and Portugal serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of modern infrastructure. As recovery efforts continue and the causes are investigated, both nations are working diligently to ensure that such incidents are minimized in the future. The swift restoration of power is a testament to the resilience of the energy sectors in both countries.
