A massive power outage struck Spain and Portugal on Monday, affecting millions and causing widespread disruption. The blackout began just after noon local time and quickly spread across both countries, plunging major cities, including Madrid and Lisbon, into darkness.
The Spanish power distributor, Red Eléctrica, announced that it could take between six to ten hours to restore power to the affected areas. Eduardo Prieto, the head of operations at Red Eléctrica, described the situation as unprecedented, emphasizing the exceptional nature of the event.
The outage disrupted subway services, phone lines, traffic lights, and ATMs, creating chaos in urban areas. Authorities were quick to respond, with the Portuguese government holding an emergency meeting to address the crisis. In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited Red Eléctrica to monitor the restoration efforts.
While the exact cause of the blackout remains unclear, initial assessments suggest that issues in Spain’s electricity distribution network may have triggered the failure. The Portuguese National Cybersecurity Center reassured the public that there was no indication of a cyberattack involved. Portuguese officials echoed this sentiment, stating the problem appeared to originate outside their country.
The outage impacted a combined population of over 50 million people, although it was not immediately clear how many were affected. Reports indicated a significant drop in electricity demand, falling from 27,500 megawatts to about 15,000 megawatts within minutes.
In Spain, the blackout affected various sectors. Traffic authorities urged citizens to minimize car use due to non-functioning traffic lights, while events like the Madrid Open tennis tournament were interrupted. In the industrial town of Terrassa, stores selling generators ran out of stock as residents rushed to prepare for prolonged outages.
In Portugal, the outage hit Lisbon and surrounding areas, disrupting hospitals and emergency services, which had to switch to backup generators. Train services came to a halt, and gas stations were unable to operate. The National Authority for Emergencies and Civil Protection in Portugal confirmed that backup systems were functioning but noted the challenges faced by emergency responders.
As the situation unfolded, both countries worked diligently to restore power and address the immediate needs of their citizens. The event highlighted the interconnectedness of the European electricity system and raised questions about the resilience of infrastructure in the face of such widespread outages.