Electricity Blackout Hits Large Parts of Spain and Portugal

So far, the causes of the blackout remain unknown, according to local media.

Spectators roam inside the Madrid Open tennis tournament venue during a general blackout in Madrid, Spain, on April 28, 2025. AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

Widespread blackouts have plunged large swaths of Spain and Portugal, and even parts of France, into darkness, leaving potentially millions without electricity.

So far, the causes of the blackouts remain unknown.

Portuguese newspaper Diário de Notícias reported on April 28 that a widespread blackout had hit both countries.

Diarioarea reported that all of Spain is currently without electricity, leaving everything from operations half-finished to people trapped in elevators.

The Spanish government made its first comment just after 2 pm, saying that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will chair an emergency meeting at 3 pm today.

The Portuguese Cabinet has also convened an emergency meeting at the prime minister’s residence.

Data from Spain’s national grid showed that it lost more than 10 gigawatts of demand in a few seconds.

Publico reported that Portuguese Cabinet Minister Manuel Castro Almeida said that the energy blackout affecting Portugal may be due to a cyberattack and is also affecting Spain, France, and Germany.

Speaking to RTP 3, when asked about the possibility of it being a cyber attack, Manuel Castro Almeida said that “there is this possibility, but it is not confirmed.”

“I know that it covers several countries of Europe—Portugal, Spain, France, and Germany, and I believe Morocco as well,” Castro Almeida said.

“But it’s unconfirmed information.”

Spain’s national electricity transmission system operator, Red Eléctrica, confirmed power outages across the country.

In a statement on social media platform X, the company said that “plans to restore the electricity supply have been activated.”

Red Eléctrica said that the power outage in Spain is “exceptional and extraordinary” and will take “up to 10 hours to repair.”

Portugal’s Public Security Police warned that, given the scenario of a general lack of electricity across the country, traffic will become “an even greater challenge.”

French grid operator RTE said that homes in the French Basque Country were without power for a few minutes but that all power has since been restored.

Portuguese distributor E-Redes, whose site is currently down under maintenance, said the outage was due to “a problem with the European electricity system,” according to Portuguese newspaper Expresso.

Spanish oil refiner Petronor said all units at its Bilbao oil refinery were shut due to the power blackout in the country, according to a statement on their website on Monday.

“The plant has been shut down, fully ensuring safety conditions, and all emergency systems are operating correctly,” the company said.

The countries have a combined population of more than 50 million people.

It was not immediately clear how many were affected, but there are continuous reports that subway networks, phone lines, and traffic lights are not working.

Spain’s state‐owned railway company RENFE reported that its trains lost power and that services across all stations were suspended.

People have been unable to withdraw cash from ATMs, and stores selling generators have sold out as customers lined up to buy them.

It was not possible to make calls on mobile phone networks in Portugal, though some apps were working.

Portuguese airport operator ANA said airports activated emergency generators, which, for now, allows essential airport operations to be maintained at Porto and Faro airports.

“In Lisbon, operations are ongoing but with limitations. So far, there have been no impacts on Madeira and Azores airports,” it said.

In a video posted on X, Madrid Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida urged the capital’s residents to minimise all travel and stay at their current locations if possible.

Power outages on this scale are rare in Europe.

In 2003, a problem with a hydroelectric power line between Italy and Switzerland caused a major outage that left almost the whole of Italy in darkness for around 12 hours.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report