On Monday, a significant power outage struck both Spain and Portugal, impacting millions of residents by leaving them without electricity for several hours. The blackout, which initiated around 10:33 GMT, was attributed to ongoing issues with the European electric grid, though specific details about the nature of these problems and the cause of the outage in Europe remain unclear. The blackout disrupted daily life significantly, affecting transportation and healthcare—flights were grounded, public transport stopped, and hospitals had to focus on emergency care.
In response to the situation, Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro addressed the public, emphasising that preliminary investigations yielded "no indication" of a cyberattack as the potential cause of the widespread disruption. The outage not only affected residential areas but also led to disruptions in businesses and public services, prompting concerns about the resilience of the electrical infrastructure in both countries. At the time of publishing, authorities are currently working to rectify the situation and restore power while evaluating the underlying factors that contributed to this significant event.
Madrid's Barajas International Airport and Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport temporarily closed due to a power outage, disrupting telecommunications and causing significant flight delays across the Iberian Peninsula. Travellers from Brussels and other European cities faced cancellations, leaving many stranded and searching for alternatives. Airport authorities issued advisories and worked on recovery plans, but passenger uncertainty remained high amidst the chaos.
In Spain, hospitals in Madrid and Catalonia had to suspend routine medical procedures, relying on backup generators for critical patient care. The outage also shut down several refineries, disrupting fuel supplies and causing many retailers to temporarily close. In Portugal, traffic lights malfunctioned, creating chaotic intersections and hampering traffic flow. Metro services in Lisbon and Porto were suspended, leading to widespread frustration. Emergency teams rescued about 35,000 stranded train passengers, though 11 trains remained stuck in remote areas. The Madrid Open tennis tournament also announced a suspension of play. With traffic lights out, severe jams formed in cities, prompting volunteers to direct traffic and showcase community resilience amid the crisis.
Spain's Interior Ministry declared a national emergency following a massive blackout that left millions without power. In response, the government deployed 30,000 police officers to maintain order, while both national and regional governments held emergency meetings.
As of late Monday, power restoration began, reaching 99 per cent by Tuesday morning. However, José Luis Ábalos, former transport minister of Spain, warned that train service disruptions would continue, particularly impacting the high-speed rail network. Full service restoration is still being assessed as the countries recover from this event.