Massive power outage in Spain and Portugal leaves thousands stranded and millions without light

A massive and unprecedented power outage crippled much of Spain and Portugal on Monday, plunging the Iberian Peninsula into chaos by cutting off electricity, internet access, and mobile networks for millions. The blackout disrupted transportation, stranded tens of thousands, and left authorities scrambling to determine the cause.

At exactly 12:33 p.m., Spain’s national power grid abruptly lost 15 gigawatts of electricity—about 60% of the country’s total demand—in just five seconds, according to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. “We have never experienced a total systems collapse like this,” he stated in a national address.

Eduardo Prieto, head of operations at Spain’s national grid operator Red Eléctrica, described the event as “exceptional and extraordinary.” By 11 p.m., power had been restored to roughly half of the country, and Sánchez assured citizens that full electricity would return by the end of Tuesday.

The outage paralyzed Madrid, Lisbon, Barcelona, and other major cities. Train services came to a sudden halt, forcing emergency responders to evacuate more than 35,000 passengers from over 100 stalled trains across Spain. As late as Monday night, passengers on 11 trains were still awaiting evacuation.

Public transport collapsed, with subways shut down and buses either delayed or overcrowded. In Madrid, hundreds of people tried hitchhiking to the airport, holding handmade signs to flag down passing drivers. “I’ve been here almost three hours, just trying to get to the airport,” said Jessica Fernández, visibly distressed. “This is terrifying.”

Cellular networks were severely impacted, leaving most people unable to call or message others. Even ATMs and gas stations ceased to function. Emergency services and hospitals ran on backup generators. Citizens began using battery-powered radios to follow the news.

The widespread disruption raised fears of sabotage or a cyberattack, but both Portuguese and EU officials said there was no evidence of foul play. Portugal’s National Cybersecurity Center ruled out hacking, while EU energy commissioner Teresa Ribera called the incident “one of the most serious power failures in Europe in recent memory.”

Although the cause remains unknown, Spain is pulling electricity from neighboring Morocco and France to stabilize the grid. The government also ramped up output from hydroelectric and thermal power plants. Sánchez said the military would deploy generators and aid to the most affected areas.

Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro held an emergency cabinet meeting and maintained regular contact with Sánchez, expressing hope that full power would be restored by the end of the day. Portuguese officials indicated that the outage may have originated from outside their borders.

While mainland Spain and Portugal were affected, the blackout did not extend to the Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, or Spain’s North African territories, Ceuta and Melilla.