On April 28, 2025, a massive power outage swept across mainland Spain and Portugal, leaving millions without electricity and causing widespread disruption.
The blackout, which began around 12:33 PM CEST, also affected parts of southwestern France and Andorra, marking one of the most significant electrical failures in recent European history.
What Happened?
The outage commenced with a sudden loss of approximately 15 gigawatts of power, leading to the disconnection of Spain from the European electricity grid. This abrupt drop caused cascading failures across the Iberian Peninsula, disrupting daily life and critical infrastructure.
Impact Across the Region
Spain: Major cities like Madrid and Barcelona experienced halted metro services, non-functional traffic lights, and internet outages. Hospitals operated on backup generators, and airports faced significant delays. The national parliament and other government buildings were also affected.
Portugal: Lisbon’s metro and train services came to a standstill, and mobile networks experienced severe disruptions. Hospitals relied on emergency power, and the Lisbon Airport temporarily ceased operations.
Retail Sector: IKEA stores in Spain activated backup generators, restricted new customer entries, and closed smaller outlets. In Portugal, all IKEA stores shut down for the day.
Investigating the Cause
Authorities from both countries are investigating the root cause of the blackout. Preliminary reports suggest that extreme temperature variations in Spain led to “anomalous oscillations” in high-voltage power lines, a rare event known as “induced atmospheric vibration.” This phenomenon disrupted the synchronization of the European electricity network, leading to widespread outages.
While some speculated about a potential cyberattack, both Spanish and Portuguese officials have found no evidence supporting this theory. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the blackout.
Restoration Efforts
By late evening on April 28, power had been restored to approximately 50% of affected areas in Spain. However, full stabilization of the grid is expected to take several days. Emergency services remain on high alert, and both governments have convened crisis meetings to coordinate recovery efforts and prevent future occurrences.
This unprecedented event underscores the vulnerabilities in interconnected power systems and the need for robust contingency planning in the face of rare but impactful natural phenomena.
