Widespread blackout in Spain and Portugal

A massive blackout swept through Spain and Portugal, leaving millions without power. Reports indicate serious issues with Europe’s electricity network.

The incident, which began late Monday morning local time, has led to disruptions in critical infrastructure, including airports, public transportation systems, hospitals, and telecommunications networks.

According to reports, the blackout has affected both Spain and Portugal comprehensively, plunging key cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, and Lisbon into darkness. Madrid’s Barajas International Airport and Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport have been shut down due to the power outage, and other regional airports have also halted operations.

Passengers have been stranded in Madrid and Lisbon’s metro systems, with reports of train evacuations in tunnels. According to Euronews Portugal, some passengers were forced to walk through underground routes.

Hospitals have not been spared from the crisis. Madrid’s La Paz Hospital and several medical centers in Portugal reported having to cancel surgeries due to the power outage. Telecommunications networks have also been disrupted, with many residents in both countries reporting a lack of access to mobile networks.

The Spanish government has responded swiftly to the crisis, convening an emergency meeting at the Moncloa Palace. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the control center of Red Eléctrica, the country’s power grid operator, to monitor the situation closely. In Portugal, authorities are coordinating to manage the crisis. Portugal’s national electricity company (REN) stated that the blackout has affected the entire Iberian Peninsula and parts of France.

Reports indicate that the blackout has spread to other parts of Europe. Residents of Andorra and areas of France, particularly regions bordering Spain, have reported power outages. Media have also reported scattered blackouts in Belgium. Red Eléctrica announced that electricity consumption in Spain dropped by 50% at 12:30 PM local time on Monday, underscoring the scale of the blackout.

The European Commission issued a statement on Monday afternoon, stating that it is in contact with Spanish and Portuguese national authorities as well as the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) to investigate the root causes and consequences of the situation. The statement noted, “Under EU regulations, protocols exist to restore system functionality.”

Red Eléctrica reported that the process of restoring power has begun gradually in northern and southern Spain, but due to technical reasons, this process may take time. Major Spanish electricity companies, Endesa and Iberdrola, are investigating the causes of the incident. Local media have pointed to issues with Europe’s power grid as the primary factor. Portugal’s REN has suggested a fire in the Alaric Mountain range in southwestern France, which damaged high-voltage power lines which could be a possible cause. However, the exact reason for the blackout is still under investigation.