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Millions across Spain, Portugal, and parts of France were plunged into darkness on Monday following a major power outage. The disruption affected mobile networks, halted train services, and even stranded people in elevators, causing widespread chaos.
Public Transport and Airports Severely Affected
In Madrid, the closure of Atocha train station led to major commuter disruptions. Madrid’s Barajas International Airport also faced operational shutdowns, with several airports in the region suspending flights due to the outage. Citizens in both Spain and Portugal reported losing access to mobile and internet services.
According to Euronews Portugal, trains were immobilized in tunnels between stations, leaving many passengers trapped inside metro systems in both Lisbon and Madrid. Portuguese police confirmed that metro services in Lisbon and Porto were suspended, with traffic signals across the country failing as well, Reuters reported.
The Spanish government convened an emergency meeting at the Moncloa Palace to monitor the evolving situation, according to Euronews Spain. Meanwhile, the blackout extended beyond Iberia, with residents in Andorra and parts of southern France, as well as Belgium, also experiencing electricity disruptions.
Both Spain and Portugal, as well as their capitals of Madrid and Lisbon, are currently suffering from a massive power outage, effecting airports, hospitals, power plants, subways, traffic lights, and other critical infrastructure across Western Europe. The cause of the outage is… pic.twitter.com/dBWfgwvXz0
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 28, 2025
What Caused the Massive Power Outage?
The exact cause of the blackout remains uncertain. However, early reports suggest a disturbance in the European electrical grid might be responsible. Local media speculated that a fire on the Alaric mountain in southwest France, which damaged a high-voltage transmission line between Perpignan and eastern Narbonne, could have triggered the cascading failures.
Red Eléctrica, Spain’s grid operator, confirmed it is working closely with energy providers to gradually restore electricity. They reported that power recovery efforts have already started in the northern and southern regions of the country.
“This is crucial for the gradual reestablishment of the national electricity supply. We are continuing our efforts to fully restore power,” Red Eléctrica stated, as cited by the BBC.
