Spain and Portugal have restored power following a massive blackout on April 28, 2025, which disrupted 60% of Spain’s electricity demand in seconds, causing chaos in cities, including people trapped in elevators and halted transport systems. By Tuesday, public transport and traffic lights were functioning again, though delays continued. While Spain’s grid operator ruled out a cyberattack, the High Court is investigating a potential terrorist act.
Authorities have not yet explained the cause or how future disruptions will be prevented.The blackout in Spain and Portugal was traced to two major losses in solar power generation in southwestern Spain, destabilizing the grid and disconnecting it from France’s network. This raised concerns about the risks of relying heavily on solar and wind energy without sufficient backup systems. The economic damage is estimated between €2.25 billion and €4.5 billion, with criticism directed at the government for not reinforcing the grid. Major manufacturers, including SEAT and Volkswagen, were affected, with some plants experiencing production delays.
Small businesses were also impacted, with many bars and restaurants in major cities reporting spoiled inventory due to the extended power outage. In Galicia, three individuals tragically died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning while using a generator to power medical devices. In Portugal, services in Lisbon’s metro, airport, and hospitals slowly resumed by Tuesday. Authorities declared a state of emergency in different areas, deploying emergency teams to ensure safety and aid stranded residents during the outage.
