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Power restored in Spain and Portugal after massive blackout left millions stranded

Power restored in Spain and Portugal after massive blackout left millions stranded
Tuesday 29 April 2025 - 14:06 By: Zahouani Ilham
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Spain’s government has launched an investigation into a nationwide blackout that left millions without electricity across the country. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Tuesday that no potential causes have been ruled out. The government is committed to taking all necessary steps to prevent a recurrence. The blackout affected both Spain and Portugal, and authorities are looking into the possibility of a cyber attack targeting critical infrastructure.

By early Tuesday morning, Spain's national grid operator, Red Eléctrica, reported that more than 99% of the energy supply had been restored. Portugal’s grid operator, REN, also confirmed that all 89 power substations were online again, restoring power to over 6 million customers.

As the electricity returned, the two nations continued to deal with the aftermath of the disruption, which left many travelers stranded at airports and train stations. On Monday night, residents in major cities like Madrid experienced complete darkness, with iconic landmarks like the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona obscured by the night sky. Despite the power coming back, many people remained stuck due to halted train services, closed shops, and disrupted communication.

Spanish emergency services reported rescuing over 35,000 people stranded in trains and subways. However, as late as 11 pm, some trains were still awaiting evacuation. Frustration grew as many could not contact loved ones due to the loss of mobile services.

Authorities have yet to confirm the cause of the blackout, which is the second major power failure in Europe in the past two months. While speculation of sabotage emerged, experts, including Portugal’s National Cybersecurity Center, dismissed cyberattacks as the cause. European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera also ruled out foul play, calling the incident one of the most serious power failures in recent European history.

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