A massive power outage hit Spain and Portugal on April 28, 2025, causing widespread chaos and disruption. The blackout began around midday local time and affected not just Spain and Portugal but also parts of Andorra and France.
In Madrid, commuters were caught off guard as the metro system went dark. Sarah Jovovich, a local resident, described the scene as "hysterical" and "chaotic." Many people were left stranded, confused, and unable to access information as mobile networks struggled under the strain. Traffic lights stopped functioning, leading to gridlock on the roads.
Travelers had their own challenges. Peter Hughes found himself stuck on a train about 200 kilometers from Madrid. Emergency lights failed, and he was left without working toilets. Meanwhile, Jonathan Emery, another passenger on a train between Seville and Madrid, experienced a similar ordeal. After an hour of waiting, locals began arriving with supplies like water and food, showing remarkable community spirit in the face of the crisis.
In Lisbon, the impact was just as severe. Many businesses closed, and people rushed to ATMs to withdraw cash as card payments stopped working. Mark England, on holiday in Benidorm, noted that shops were shuttered and streets were eerily quiet without the usual hustle and bustle.
As the situation unfolded, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez convened an emergency meeting to address the crisis. The national power grid operator, Red Electrica, indicated that restoring power could take several hours, with some areas potentially facing a longer wait. By mid-afternoon, reports began to emerge that power was being restored in some regions, but many remained in the dark.
The outage led to a state of emergency being declared in Spain, allowing regions to request special measures. In Portugal, the power company REN warned that it could take up to a week to return to normal. By the evening, Sánchez announced that about 50% of power had been restored across Spain, but many customers were still without electricity.
As the day wore on, the community’s resilience shone through. People shared resources and helped each other. Despite the uncertainty and discomfort, some even found moments of camaraderie, like Isaac Bifet, who spent the evening with friends by candlelight.
This event highlights the vulnerability of modern infrastructure and the importance of community support during crises. As Spain and Portugal work to recover from this unprecedented blackout, many are left reflecting on the day when everything went off.