Massive Power Outage Paralyzes Spain and Portugal, Millions Affected Across Iberian Peninsula

Blackout Disrupts Transportation, Communication, and Daily Life

BARCELONA, Spain — An unprecedented power outage swept across Spain and Portugal on Monday, stranding tens of thousands, cutting off phone and internet access, halting transportation, and plunging millions into darkness. Authorities confirmed that nearly 60% of Spain’s national power demand was wiped out in just five seconds at 12:33 p.m., marking one of the most significant infrastructure failures in Europe in recent memory.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the nation, stating that by Monday night, power was partially restored, and he pledged full restoration across Spain’s 48 million residents by the end of Tuesday.

Transportation and Communications Paralyzed

The sudden blackout left Spain’s and Portugal’s major cities — Madrid, Barcelona, and Lisbon — in chaos. Traffic signals failed, metro and train services stopped mid-journey, and airports struggled to operate on backup power. In Spain, 35,000 train passengers needed evacuation, with emergency services working into the night.

Airports experienced widespread delays, and flights in and out of Lisbon and Madrid were disrupted. Meanwhile, mobile networks failed across vast areas, leading many residents to search for battery-powered radios to receive information.

In cities like Barcelona, people gathered outside darkened shops and cafes, and some residents turned to hitchhiking as bus services became unreliable.

Government Response and International Assistance

Spain’s National Security Council held an emergency session, deploying army units to distribute generators to severely impacted areas. Portugal’s government also convened an emergency meeting, and Prime Minister Luis Montenegro assured the public that restoration efforts were underway.

Authorities said there was no immediate evidence of a cyberattack. Both the Portuguese National Cybersecurity Center and European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera dismissed early speculation, noting that all potential causes were still under investigation.

Electricity is being imported from Morocco and France to stabilize Spain’s grid, alongside increased output from hydroelectric and thermal power plants.

Economic and Social Impact

Public services, including courts and hospitals, were disrupted. Gas stations, ATMs, and payment systems went offline. Lisbon’s metro saw evacuations, and Barcelona’s metro and bus services ground to a halt.

At the Madrid Open tennis tournament, matches were suspended, and Spain’s Parliament closed operations early. Businesses across both countries were forced to shut their doors.

Despite the widespread disruption, some residents took a lighter view of the situation. “We are lucky. Some people got trapped in the metro,” said Monste Cortés in Barcelona. “There is a positive side: we are talking more with each other.”

A Regional Crisis With Ongoing Investigation

Spain’s power grid operator Red Eléctrica called the event “exceptional and extraordinary,” with officials warning it could take until Tuesday evening to fully restore services.

Authorities across Europe are on alert amid concerns over vulnerabilities in national infrastructures, especially following recent incidents and fears of potential sabotage.

For now, the Iberian Peninsula faces a slow and challenging recovery from one of its most significant blackouts in history.