Massive Power Outage Hits Spain, Portugal, France; Air Traffic Affected, Chaos On Streets

Last Updated:April 28, 2025, 17:40 IST

A major power outage has hit Spain and Portugal, including their capitals. Spanish generator RedElectrica is assessing the incident

(Photo: AP)

A massive blackout on Monday left millions of people across Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France without electricity, grid operators reported. The cause of the outage was not immediately identified.

Spain’s state electricity network operator, Red Electrica, announced on X that it had restored power in the north and south of the country. Portugal’s REN operator confirmed that the entire Iberian Peninsula and parts of France were affected.

This widespread power outage hit Spain and Portugal, including their capitals. Spanish generator Red Electrica stated that the Iberian Peninsula was impacted, and the incident is under assessment.

Such extensive outages are rare on the peninsula, which has a combined population of over 50 million. It remains unclear how many people were affected.

Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE reported that the power outage struck several regions around 12:30 p.m. local time, leaving the newsroom, Spain’s parliament in Madrid, and metro stations in the dark. Residents in Barcelona and its suburbs also reported the outage in neighborhood WhatsApp chats.

In Portugal, with a population of about 10.6 million, the blackout affected Lisbon and surrounding areas, as well as the northern and southern parts of the country. According to Portuguese newspaper Expresso, E-Redes said the outage was due to “a problem with the European electricity system," prompting the company to cut power in specific areas to stabilize the network. Parts of France were also affected.

The blackout disrupted mobile phone networks, though some apps remained functional. Unconfirmed reports mentioned that the Lisbon subway halted operations and traffic lights in the city center ceased functioning.

Spanish power grid operator Red Electrica is collaborating with energy companies to restore power, while Portugal’s police cautioned that traffic lights and street lighting might fail, urging people to drive carefully and avoid unnecessary journeys.

Spanish train operator Renfe reported a national power outage causing train stoppages and canceled departures. E-Redes is working to re-establish connections, stating the issue is part of a broader European problem.

The blackout has impacted air traffic in Spain and Portugal, although widespread cancellations have not yet been reported. The situation is being closely monitored.

Residents in Spain, Portugal, and France have reported major outages, leading to shutdowns at airports and subways, and impacting communication networks. Madrid’s Barajas Airport is out of service, according to El Mundo. The official cause remains unconfirmed, as the chaos unfolds.

(with inputs from agencies)

Madrid, Spain

News world Massive Power Outage Hits Spain, Portugal, France; Air Traffic Affected, Chaos On Streets