Spain’s power supply is almost fully restored after one of Europe’s most severe blackouts
The Hindu
Spain and Portugal recover from massive blackout, leaving residents stranded and in darkness, as officials investigate cause.
Power had almost fully returned to Spain early on Tuesday morning (April 29, 2025) as many questions remained about what caused one of Europe’s most severe blackouts that grounded flights, paralysed metro systems, disrupted mobile communications and shut down ATMs across Spain and Portugal.
By 6:30 a.m., more than 99% of energy demand in Spain had been restored, the country's electricity operator Red Eléctrica said.
Power had gradually returned to several regions across Spain and Portugal as the nations reeled from the still-unexplained widespread blackout that had turned airports and train stations into campgrounds for stranded travelers. By Monday night, Portuguese grid operator REN said 85 out of 89 power substations were back online.
Monday (April 28) night, many city residents, including in Spain’s capital of Madrid, went to sleep in total darkness. The normally illuminated cathedral spires of Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia Basilica became indistinguishable from the night sky. Streets remained deserted even in neighborhoods where lights flickered back on, as people stayed home after a day of chaos.
“We have a long night ahead,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said when he addressed the European nation late on Monday (April 28). “We are working with the goal of having power restored to the entire country.”
In Madrid, cheers erupted from balconies where the electricity had returned.
On Tuesday (April 29) morning, Madrid's metro system said service would be restored on all but one line by 8 a.m., meaning that 80% of trains would be operating again during rush hour.
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