On April 28, 2025, a massive power outage struck Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France, causing severe disruptions across the region. The blackout began around 12:30 p.m. local time, crippling transportation networks, communication systems, and essential public services.
In Spain, electricity demand plummeted from 26 gigawatts to just 12 gigawatts, halting train services, shutting down subway operations, and forcing hospitals to rely on backup generators. Mobile networks and internet access were also heavily impacted, leaving many residents without communication. ATMs were rendered unusable, and businesses reverted to manual transactions to continue operations. In response, the Spanish government declared a state of emergency, deploying 30,000 police officers nationwide to maintain public order.
By the evening, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that approximately 60% of the country’s electricity supply had been restored. Recovery efforts involved a gradual and delicate process of reactivating isolated sections of the power grid, a task expected to take several more days. Emergency energy support from France and Morocco played a critical role in stabilizing the system.
The exact cause of the outage is still under investigation. Spain’s grid operator, Red Eléctrica, reported a failure in the connection with France, while Portugal’s energy authorities pointed to an unusual atmospheric event triggered by extreme temperature shifts. Though sabotage has not been ruled out, authorities stated there is no current evidence of a cyberattack.
This unprecedented blackout has exposed significant vulnerabilities in the Iberian Peninsula’s energy infrastructure, prompting urgent discussions about reinforcing grid resilience and enhancing regional energy cooperation to better withstand future crises.
