A widespread power outage severely disrupted major cities across Spain and Portugal on Monday, leaving millions without electricity and causing significant disruption to daily activities. The blackout affected key cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Seville, and Porto, with power grid operator Red Eléctrica and local utilities scrambling to restore normal services.
The outage hit Spain around 12:30 PM local time, plunging several regions of the country into darkness. Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE reported that critical infrastructures, including government buildings, train stations, airports, and metro systems, were severely impacted. In Madrid, part of the underground metro system was evacuated, while traffic lights across the city stopped working, leading to massive traffic jams in the city center. The Spanish traffic authority, DGT, advised citizens to avoid using cars unless absolutely necessary.
In Portugal, the outage affected Lisbon and surrounding areas, as well as northern and southern parts of the country. Local authorities and utility companies reported that the issue stemmed from a problem with the European electricity system. The Portuguese energy company E-Redes stated that power had been cut in specific regions to stabilize the grid and prevent further damage.
In addition to the widespread blackouts, communication networks were also affected. Many residents in both Spain and Portugal reported issues with mobile phone networks, though some apps remained functional. In Spain, neighborhoods in Barcelona and nearby cities reported that they were also experiencing outages, and communication via WhatsApp groups confirmed the widespread nature of the problem.
The Canary and Balearic Islands in Spain were unaffected by the outage, and markets in these regions continued to operate normally. Despite the disruption, backup plans have been activated by utilities, and Red Eléctrica confirmed that they were working with energy companies to resolve the situation.
The outage also extended beyond the Iberian Peninsula, affecting parts of France. Red Eléctrica called the issue a “wider European problem,” though the exact cause of the grid failure has not yet been disclosed. Authorities are still investigating the matter.
While efforts are underway to restore power, the massive blackout has highlighted the vulnerability of the European electricity network, which relies on cross-border cooperation. The incident has raised questions about the stability and preparedness of Europe’s power grid, especially in light of growing energy demands and the increasing reliance on interconnected power systems across countries.
Authorities in both Spain and Portugal have assured the public that work is ongoing to restore power, with some regions already seeing the return of electricity. However, the situation remains fluid, and the full extent of the damage caused by the outage is still being assessed.
Sources By Agencies
