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Business Standard
29-04-2025
- Climate
- Business Standard
Decoded: Reasons behind massive power outage in Spain and Portugal
A large-scale power outage brought life to a standstill across Spain, Portugal, and parts of France on Monday, leaving millions without electricity. The blackout hit major cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Seville, and Valencia, disrupting public transport, air travel, mobile networks, and internet services. In Spain and Portugal, residents reported widespread mobile network outages and disruptions to internet services. Trains in Lisbon and Madrid were stuck inside tunnels between stations, forcing passengers to wait in complete darkness. Metro services in Lisbon and Porto were suspended entirely, and traffic signals stopped working in several areas, creating confusion and congestion on the roads. Even Madrid's Barajas International Airport was affected, along with other airports that had to stop operations temporarily. Outage affected all services Shops, restaurants, and offices across major cities turned dark. In Madrid, many businesses were forced to close early, and residents found themselves cut off from essential services. The blackout also disrupted events such as the Madrid Open tennis tournament. According to Euronews, the power failure stretched beyond the Iberian Peninsula, impacting nearby countries like Andorra and parts of southwest France. Some areas in Belgium also reported brief disruptions. The blackout was so serious that the Spanish government called an emergency session in Moncloa to monitor the situation and coordinate a response. Reason for the power outage At first, the exact cause of the outage was unclear. However, local media reported two possible reasons. One possibility was a technical issue within the European power grid system, which caused a widespread disturbance across interconnected networks. Another suspected cause was a wildfire on Mount Alaric in southwest France. The fire reportedly destroyed a high-voltage power cable that runs between Perpignan and Narbonne, which may have added stress to the grid system. Later, Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said that the outage began in Spain and may have been caused by a rare atmospheric event. Energy experts explained that sudden and extreme changes in temperature across Spain could have affected power lines and created vibrations in the high-voltage cables. These vibrations caused irregularities in the electricity supply, which led to widespread system failures. The phenomenon, known as 'induced atmospheric vibration', caused the system to fall out of sync, triggering further disturbances across the European grid. Despite the scale of the problem, officials ruled out the possibility of a cyberattack. Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, said there was no sign of any malicious activity. Spain's representative to the European Commission, Teresa Ribera, also told Spanish radio that the blackout did not appear to be intentional or the result of sabotage. Challenges of shared power grids International experts noted that while shared electricity grids allow countries to use clean energy more efficiently, they also make the entire system more vulnerable. A problem in one country can now easily spread to others. This has happened before — in 2003, Italy suffered a 12-hour blackout due to a power line issue in Switzerland. In 2006, a German power surge caused blackouts in Portugal and Morocco. Efforts to restore electricity began almost immediately. Spain's national grid operator, Red Electrica, said it started bringing back power in the north and south of the country. Portugal's grid operator, REN, also worked throughout the day to bring systems back online. By late Monday evening, Spain had restored 61 per cent of its power supply.
Euronews
29-04-2025
- Euronews
Spain, Portugal and parts of France hit by massive power outage
ADVERTISEMENT Spain and Portugal experienced a widespread power outage on Monday, leaving millions without electricity in a snap blackout. In Portugal, official sources told domestic media that the outage, which hit around late morning local time, was nationwide, while similar reports emerged from Spain. Madrid's Barajas International Airport and Lisbon's Humberto Delgado were closed after being left without power, and telecommunications have also been affected, with residents across the two countries saying they have no access to mobile networks. Meanwhile, other airports have come to a standstill throughout the Iberian Peninsula, and flights from Brussels and other European cities to Spain and Portugal have been cancelled, leaving hundreds stranded, Euronews has learned. Related What could have caused the major power outage in Spain and Portugal? Experts weigh in Numerous passengers have also been left stranded in the metro systems of the Spanish and Portuguese capitals, with trains stuck in tunnels between stations, Euronews Portugal reports. The blackout has affected hospitals, too, including Madrid's La Paz and multiple medical facilities in Portugal, with some being forced to cancel surgeries. A Metro station in Madrid remains shut down during a blackout on Monday, 28 April 2025 Euronews/Clea Skopeliti A source at a hospital in Setúbal told Euronews that the facility has a backup generator capable of operating for 8-12 hours in the hospital's critical departments. However, there is currently no water supply. The hospital has still not received any information on when the power supply will be back or how to proceed, and it has also lost its internet access. Citizens have been asked not to dial 112 unless in a genuine emergency to avoid overloading the lines. The Spanish government has convened an emergency session at Moncloa and is monitoring the situation as it develops, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has visited the control centre of Red Electrica, the company that operates Spain's electric grid, according to our colleagues at Euronews Spain. The European Commission issued a statement on Monday afternoon, saying it was "in contact with the national authorities of Spain and Portugal as well as (European electricity transmission system operators' network) ENTSO-E to understand the underlying cause and the impact of the situation." "As per EU legislation in place ... there are protocols in place to restore the functioning of the system," the statement read. "Following the massive blackout, we stand ready to support Spain and Portugal in putting their systems back on track," European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen said in a post on X. "Power is already back in some regions. Network operators and ENTSO-E (are) doing everything possible on the ground. Solidarity and unity are key for our Energy Union.' 'Nobody was expecting a thing like this' Juan Muñoz, the owner of a butcher's shop in the centre of Madrid, said the situation was uncertain for his products. Like everyone else, he had been caught off guard by the blackout: 'I was very surprised, as I imagine everyone else was – nobody was expecting a thing like this.' Muñoz said he had taken what action he could but was concerned about how long the outage would last. 'We've taken all the meat and put it in the walk-in fridge, and have kept it shut to retain the temperature for as long as possible,' he said. 'We've no idea how long this will last. Listening to the radio, they say they don't know. I've heard that in some areas, some power is starting to return. But we'll see – if it's a question of several hours, the chicken will be destroyed.' ADVERTISEMENT Juan Muñoz in front of his shop that has been closed due to a blackout, in Madrid, 28 April 2025 Euronews/Clea Skopeliti Mariana Guzman, an employee at an ice-cream shop and cafe in the city centre, said the business would stand to lose dozens of vats of ice-cream if the power didn't return within the next hour. Standing over the counter, she told Euronews: 'We're just waiting to see what will happen because realistically, if it doesn't return by then, we'll have a big loss – they'll start to melt and once that happens, it's very dangerous to refreeze them. It's already been more than an hour.' 'The street is closed and the businesses are concerned … [because] you could stand to lose a lot.' Gradual restoration in the works Residents of Andorra and parts of France bordering Spain were also reporting being hit by the blackout. Further outages have been reported as far as Belgium, according to the latest information. ADVERTISEMENT The electricity service has since been restored in France after some areas suffered a partial outage, sources from the national grid manager RTE said, as quoted by the Spanish news agency Efe. The sources added that RTE is exploring ways to relocate the electricity to help reconnect Spain. The Basque Country has also had its power restored, according to reports. By Monday afternoon, Red Eléctrica stated that it had begun gradually restoring power in both the north and south of Spain. However, the process of getting everyone back on the grid might take between 6 and ten hours for technical reasons, it added. According to Red Eléctrica, electricity consumption across Spain dropped by 50% at around 12:30 pm on Monday, indicating the widespread scale of what the company said was an "exceptional and completely extraordinary" blackout. ADVERTISEMENT The cause is yet unclear. Endesa and Iberdrola, Spain's two major electricity providers, continue to investigate the incident. Domestic media said in the immediate aftermath of the blackout that it might be related to issues with the European electric grid, which affected national grids in the Iberian Peninsula. A fire in the south-west of France, on the Alaric mountain, which damaged a high-voltage power line between Perpignan and eastern Narbonne, has also been identified as a possible cause, Portugal's national electric company REN said. Reports on a rare atmospheric phenomenon which have also been circulating have been denied by REN to private channel SIC. ADVERTISEMENT Meanwhile, the Spanish National Intelligence Centre has not ruled out the possibility of a cyberattack, while the Portuguese government has also suggested the same. However, "no evidence has yet been identified that points to a cyberattack" to justify the blackout, Portugal's National Cybersecurity Centre (CNCS) said in a statement on Monday. "Such a widespread grid failure is extremely unusual and could be caused by a number of things: there could be a physical fault in the grid which brings down power, a coordinated cyber attack could be behind it, or a dramatic imbalance between demand and supply has tipped the grid system over the edge," Taco Engelaar, managing director at energy infrastructure experts Neara told Euronews. "If it's a system fault, then the interconnectivity between different regional and national grids could be leading to the large footprint of outages we're seeing today," he added. ADVERTISEMENT "The same goes for a cyber attack - lots of these systems are connected and share assets - taking down one could take down many."
Ya Biladi
28-04-2025
- Ya Biladi
Massive power outage in Spain and Portugal disrupts Orange internet traffic in Morocco
The massive power outage in Spain and Portugal, which began at around noon today, is affecting internet users of Orange Maroc in Morocco, with the Moroccan telecom provider confirming this afternoon that the power failure in Europe is causing service interruptions due to disruptions in international communication networks. «Internet traffic disruption due to the massive power outage in Spain and Portugal affecting international links. Thank you for your understanding», Orange Maroc said on X. In Spain and Portugal, key locations such as Madrid's Barajas International Airport and Lisbon's Humberto Delgado were forced to close, and telecommunications were disrupted, with residents reporting no access to mobile networks. Stranded passengers filled airports, and several flights from Brussels and other European cities to Spain and Portugal were canceled. Metro systems in both countries were halted, with trains stuck in tunnels, and hospitals were forced to cancel surgeries. In response to this massive power outage, Spain's government convened an emergency session, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited Spain's electric grid control center. Meanwhile, the European Commission is investigating the cause of the outage and has promised support for restoration. Reports suggest the blackout may have been triggered by a fault in the European electric grid or a fire in France that damaged a high-voltage power line. Although the Spanish National Intelligence Centre has not ruled out a cyberattack, no evidence has been found to confirm this. Recovery efforts are ongoing, and power is gradually being restored in parts of Spain, though it could take hours to fully reconnect the grid. According to Pedro Sanchez, the power connection has been restored in several regions thanks to interconnections with France and Morocco. — Cadena SER (@La_SER) April 28, 2025
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Yahoo
The airports and flights impacted by Europe's power outage
There are reports of widespread travel chaos in Europe following power cuts in Spain, Portugal and parts of France. Extreme weather has been blamed for the outages, which have caused flights to be delayed and cancelled across the continent. Madrid's Barajas International Airport and Lisbon's Humberto Delgado were closed after being left without power, while emergency generators were activated in Barcelona. Porto and Faro airport report 'operation constraints'. 'Power outages in Portugal and Spain are impacting access to some airports, and affecting some airports' operations including [at] Lisbon, Madrid and Barcelona,' easyJet said in a statement. 'Like all airlines, we are experiencing some disruption to our flying programme meaning that some return flights from Lisbon and Madrid have been unable to operate.' 'Our flying programme at Porto and Faro airports is operating as planned.' 'As the situation remains fluid, we are advising customers to check local travel advice and our flight tracker for information on their flights. For passengers who are in Spain or Portugal and unable to travel to the airport today, we are providing free of charge transfers to an alternative easyJet flight within 72 hours or a flight voucher.' The airline confirms that the incident has left them unable to operate two flights from Bristol Airport, and one from London Luton. London Gatwick Airport also reported delayed flights to affected areas. Portuguese airline TAP Air said: 'Due to the power cut in several European countries, the operation of airports is temporarily very limited. TAP requests that [passengers] do not go to the airport until further information.' Spain's energy operator, Red Electrica, has estimated that it will take between six and 10 hours to restore power in the country. REN in Portugal said it believes it could take up to a week for normal service to resume. A message to travellers on Barcelona-El Prat Airport's website suggests disruption is expected to continue: 'Due to the power outage, some incidents are occurring at the airports. Contingency generators are active. Please check with your airline, as there may be disruptions to access and ground transportation.' The airport's departure board presents ongoing delays and cancellations. Here we explain what affected passengers need to know. Read our full guide to compensation here. If your flight to or from a UK or EU airport (or with a UK/EU airline) is cancelled outright, whatever the reason, your airline must offer you either a full refund or a seat on the soonest available alternative flight, even if it is with a rival your airline directly if you do wish to claim a refund, but beware that in doing so you will waive your right to being placed on another flight. If you have booked a package holiday through an ATOL-protected tour operator and your flight has been cancelled, then you will either be placed on the next reasonable available flight (potentially from a different airport) or offered a full refund or rebooking option. In the event of a long delay, and regardless of the cause, airlines must provide food and drink appropriate to the time of day (often in the form of a voucher) and a means of communicating your delay or a refund for the cost of essential phone calls. For overnight delays, you must be given hotel accommodation and transport to it – or to return home if you are on the outward leg. If there's major disruption, you may have to make your own arrangements and claim back the cost. Be reasonable when booking accommodation – don't expect a full refund for an expensive hotel unless there is no alternative. Receipts are essential. A long delay means, for short flights (up to 1,500km), two hours or more; for mid-haul journeys (1,500 to 3,500km), three hours; for longer trips, four hours. To claim additional cash compensation, the hold-up must have been the airline's fault. This does not include severe weather, for example, and will not include this week's power outage. Again, this applies only if the airline is to blame for your flight being cancelled. Yes, if all the flights are made under the same booking reference and the connection is made at an EU airport. For example, if you are due to fly from London via Madrid to Buenos Aires and you miss your connection in Madrid because the flight from London arrives an hour late, you can claim for long-haul compensation as long as the delay in arriving at your final destination, in this case Buenos Aires, is more than three hours. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
'EVERYTHING on pause': Videos capture tourists trapped at train stations after massive power outage hits Spain and Portugal
A massive power outage swept across Spain, Portugal, and parts of France on Monday, leaving large areas without electricity and causing widespread disruption. The blackout affected homes, businesses, telecommunications, and transportation services. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India stares at a 'water bomb' threat as it freezes Indus Treaty India readies short, mid & long-term Indus River plans Shehbaz Sharif calls India's stand "worn-out narrative" According to a Reuters report, Spanish power distributor Red Electrica warned that it could take between 6 to 10 hours to fully restore power across large parts of Spain. Amid the chaos, Evan Beckerman, co-founder of an automotive parts retailer, shared his experience while stuck at a train station. He posted a video on his Instagram with the caption, 'Total power outage across Spain and Portugal… Currently waiting for a train to Valencia but EVERYTHING on pause… Now we wait.' The footage reflected the widespread disruption at transportation hubs, showing an overcrowded train station with passengers standing around with their luggage. Live Events The blackout also caused disruptions to mobile networks in Spain and Portugal. Madrid's Barajas International Airport was among the major airports affected, with several airports across the region halting operations temporarily. Public transport services were severely impacted. According to Euronews Portugal, trains were stranded in tunnels between stations, leaving passengers trapped inside metros in Lisbon and Madrid. Portuguese police confirmed that train services were suspended, metro operations in Porto and Lisbon were shut down, and traffic signals were down across the country, as reported by Reuters. As the situation worsened, Euronews Spain reported that the Spanish government convened an emergency meeting at Moncloa Palace to monitor the developments and manage the response. The effects of the blackout stretched beyond Spain and Portugal, reaching residents in Andorra and parts of southern France near the Spanish border. There were also reports of disruptions in Belgium, raising concerns about the stability of Europe's electrical grid. Inputs from agencies
