Massive Blackout Hits Spain and Portugal: Key Details Uncovered

During the Madrid Open tennis tournament, spectators witnessed a total blackout in Madrid on April 28.

A large portion of the Iberian Peninsula, including Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France, was enshrouded in darkness on Monday due to an unprecedented electrical outage. While power has started to return, the outage's origin remains uncertain.

This extensive blackout, which commenced around noon local time, initially impacted major areas across the three nations. By Monday night, power restoration efforts had made progress, but significant regions were still awaiting electricity.

The power disruption significantly impacted the day-to-day activities of millions—bringing subways to a halt, crippling telephone services, and disabling traffic signals and ATMs. Fortunately, contingency systems kept essential services like hospitals, nuclear facilities, and correctional institutions operational.

What follows is a further breakdown of the situation.

Shoppers used their mobile phones as makeshift flashlights while purchasing groceries in Madrid on April 28.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the nation on Monday evening, emphasizing that such a widespread blackout was unprecedented in Spain's history.

Within seconds, 60% of Spain’s electrical supply had vanished, a staggering loss that Sánchez mentioned. The cause remains mysterious, and authorities have not dismissed any potential explanations.

Earlier that day, António Costa, a European Council president and Portugal's former premier, commented on social media, suggesting there was uncertainty about the blackout's source.

In Tarragona, Spain on April 28, 2025, a pastry shop struggled to operate in the absence of light. Officials reported that the extensive outage across Spain and Portugal interrupted mobile and internet services, immobilized trains, and left some people stranded in elevators.

Prime Minister Sánchez confirmed that by Monday evening, almost half of Spain’s power had been restored, with improvements noted in nearly all regions. He expressed gratitude to France and Morocco for their aid in reinstating power.

Significant urban centers such as Madrid, Murcia, and regions like Catalonia including Barcelona, were among the areas where electricity had resumed, announced the Spanish power company, Red Eléctrica.

Despite these advances, Sánchez cautioned that the timeline for full restoration across Spain remained indeterminate.

In Barcelona on April 28, families resorted to candles for illumination while dining during the power outage.

According to the Portuguese power grid operator REN, electricity had not yet been fully restored in Portugal as of Monday night, with Lisbon still affected. However, efforts were ongoing.

The colossal blackout caused an abrupt cessation of normalcy in Spain and Portugal on Monday.

Nationwide public transportation was heavily impacted, including subways and railways. The transport minister of Spain, Oscar Puente, noted on social media the efforts to manage stranded travelers on that day.

The blackout also resulted in numerous flight delays and cancellations at major airports in Lisbon, Madrid, and Barcelona, as indicated by a flight tracking website. Yet, Aena, the operator of several Spanish airports, reported that backup power systems ensured airports continued partial operations.