Major Blackout Hits Iberian Peninsula and Parts of France
A massive power outage swept across Spain and Portugal on Monday, bringing cities to a standstill and causing widespread disruption across the Iberian Peninsula. Public transport systems were paralyzed, ATMs stopped functioning, flights were delayed, and traffic lights went dark, leading to chaos on the roads. Parts of southern France also experienced brief interruptions during the blackout.
Subways Halted, Flights Delayed, and Streets in Chaos
Metro services in Madrid, Lisbon, and Porto were suspended, leaving commuters stranded. Major traffic jams were reported in Madrid as traffic signals failed across the city. Airports, including Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat, switched to emergency power systems, delaying numerous flights throughout the afternoon.
Hospitals activated backup generators, courts paused proceedings, and office buildings in Madrid were evacuated amid confusion. In Valencia, hundreds of passengers were left waiting at train stations with no clear communication about restoration timelines.
Sporting Events Affected, Emergency Meetings Convened
Sporting events were also hit hard. Play at the Madrid Open tennis tournament was suspended mid-match when power was cut, forcing players like Grigor Dimitrov and Jacob Fearnley off the court.
In response to the blackout, emergency cabinet meetings were quickly organized in both Spain and Portugal. Authorities stressed the importance of cross-border coordination after parts of southern France also reported disruptions.
How and When the Blackout Occurred
The outage struck around 12:30 p.m. local time, affecting both urban centers and rural areas. Portugal’s electricity grid operator, REN, confirmed that the disruption impacted large parts of the Iberian Peninsula and southern France. Spain’s Red Eléctrica announced that it was working with European partners to restore services.
“All plans for the phased restoration of energy supply are being activated, in coordination with European energy producers and operators,” a REN spokesperson said.
France’s grid operator, RTE, acknowledged the incident and assured that power was restored within hours, although investigations into the exact cause are ongoing.
Officials Warn of Travel Disruptions
Madrid’s Mayor urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, warning that disabled traffic lights posed major safety risks. In Portugal, police confirmed traffic lights were down across the country, with metros completely shut in Lisbon and Porto.
Authorities cautioned that full power restoration could take between six to ten hours. Meanwhile, airports in Lisbon and Madrid continued operating on emergency systems as flight schedules remained heavily affected.
Investigation Underway
Officials in Spain, Portugal, and France are collaborating to investigate the source of the massive blackout. As of now, both Spain’s Red Eléctrica and Portugal’s REN remain in continuous contact with national and European civil protection authorities to prevent future incidents and improve response times.
