A large-scale power outage swept across Spain and Portugal on April 28, 2025, leaving millions without electricity and paralyzing critical infrastructure throughout the Iberian Peninsula. The blackout began around midday and affected major urban centers, disrupting transportation, communications, and essential services for several hours.
In Spain, cities such as Madrid and Barcelona witnessed immediate chaos as traffic lights went dark and public transportation systems ground to a halt. Metro lines, commuter trains, and trams were forced to suspend services, stranding thousands of commuters. Emergency services operated on backup power, and many businesses had to close temporarily due to the loss of electricity. Sporting events, including the Madrid Open tennis tournament, were interrupted as stadiums were plunged into darkness.
Portugal faced similar challenges, with Lisbon and Porto experiencing major disruptions. The capital's airport suspended flight operations for more than nine hours, causing significant travel delays and cancellations. Metro systems were shut down, while traffic congestion increased sharply due to malfunctioning signals. The government of Portugal declared an emergency energy situation to ensure the prioritization of critical infrastructure. However, the islands of Madeira and the Azores remained unaffected, thanks to their independent power grids.
Authorities in both countries launched immediate investigations into the cause of the blackout. Early findings in Spain suggest that a cyberattack could be a contributing factor, although officials stressed that no definitive conclusion had yet been reached. Portugal’s national grid operator, meanwhile, reported no direct evidence of a cyberattack, pointing instead to a possible voltage fluctuation that may have originated in Spain.
Experts have also proposed alternative theories. Some analysts suggest that an atmospheric phenomenon—potentially triggered by abnormal temperature fluctuations—could have disrupted high-voltage transmission lines, leading to a cascade effect across the interconnected power grids. Earlier speculation linked the outage to a fire in southern France that damaged a high-voltage line, but French authorities have dismissed this connection after further examination.
Despite the severity of the disruption, rapid response efforts were underway. Partial restoration of power occurred within several hours across regions like Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Andalusia. However, officials warned that a complete return to normalcy could take longer in some areas, depending on localized issues within the grid.
As of late evening, both Spain and Portugal continued working to stabilize their power networks and minimize further risk of outages. Authorities have prioritized investigating the event thoroughly to prevent future occurrences and are collaborating with international cybersecurity agencies to explore all possible angles.
The massive blackout across Spain and Portugal serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that modern interconnected power systems face. Whether stemming from technical failures, natural phenomena, or cyber threats, such incidents highlight the urgent need for enhanced grid resilience and cybersecurity preparedness. A comprehensive and transparent investigation will be critical to regaining public trust and ensuring robust defensive measures are implemented. In an increasingly digitized and interconnected world, safeguarding energy infrastructure must remain a top priority for national and regional authorities to prevent widespread disruption and economic losses in the future.