Camilla Jessen
Millions were left without power as Spain and Portugal faced one of the largest blackouts in Europe’s modern history.
Spain’s Interior Ministry declared a state of emergency on April 28 following a massive power outage that swept across the Iberian Peninsula, disrupting critical infrastructure in Spain, Portugal, and parts of France and Andorra.
According to Reuters, the emergency order will apply to regions that formally request assistance.
So far, authorities in Madrid, Andalusia, and Extremadura have asked the central government to assume responsibility for maintaining public order and coordinating emergency operations.
Neighboring Portugal also experienced widespread outages. National grid operator Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN) attributed the disruption to a “rare atmospheric phenomenon,” citing extreme temperature shifts in Spain that triggered “abnormal fluctuations” on high-voltage power lines.
REN warned that grid stabilization could take up to a week.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed that the outages were linked to “strong fluctuations” in the national grid, though he did not specify the exact cause. Red Eléctrica, Spain’s national grid operator, similarly reported a “sharp surge” in power flow, while noting that investigations are ongoing.
In total, the blackout impacted around 50 million residents across the Iberian Peninsula, according to The Sun.
Key infrastructure, including metro systems, airports, rail networks, and traffic control systems, suffered significant disruptions. Madrid’s Barajas Airport, one of Europe’s busiest hubs, was among the affected sites. Hospitals switched to backup power, and mobile communications and internet access were severely interrupted.
Politico, citing unnamed sources, reported that authorities are investigating the possibility of a cyberattack as a contributing factor. However, European Council President Antonio Costa said there is currently no evidence of cyber interference.
The Financial Times described the incident as one of the largest power outages in Europe’s recent history, estimating that Spain and Portugal collectively lost more than 10 gigawatts of electricity.
By the evening of April 28, Red Eléctrica announced that more than 20% of Spain’s power supply had been restored, with electricity gradually returning to regions including Catalonia, Aragon, the Basque Country, Galicia, and Valencia.
Government officials from Spain and Portugal held emergency talks to coordinate response efforts and assess the extent of the damage.