Massive power outage: chaos in Spain and Portugal - Carinthian reports

Massive power outage: chaos in Spain and Portugal - Carinthian reports

On April 28, 2025 at 11:33 a.m. local time, a massive power outage occurred, throwing public infrastructure in Spain and Portugal into chaos. Loud 5min.at The capitals Madrid and Lisbon were particularly affected, as traffic lights failed, trains came to a standstill and mobile phone networks only worked to a limited extent. Some supermarkets had to close or could only accept cash, which made the situation even worse.

In Portugal, people's anger and frustration was palpable as they descended into chaos and gridlock. A Carinthian woman who lives in Porto vividly described how she experienced the blackout without electricity, water or a functioning cell phone network. She felt isolated and helpless, especially when she had no access to news and her roommate came home late. Despite the outbreak of panic at supermarkets, many people in Portugal remained largely calm.

Power restoration

As of 6 a.m. on April 29, 2025, 99.16 percent of power had been restored in Spain, while in Portugal more than 6.2 out of 6.5 million households had power restored, as zdf.de reported. During the day, thousands of people could be seen cheering in Madrid as the electricity was turned back on. However, in countries such as parts of France, travelers remained stranded for a long time as numerous flights were canceled.

The cause of the power outage remains unclear; Rumors of a possible cyber attack were not ruled out by Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez. According to Eduardo Prieto of Red Eléctrica, the disconnection of the European electricity connection in France may have been responsible for the collapse. There was a sudden loss of 15 gigawatts within five seconds, which triggered the massive disruption.

Preparing for future incidents

In response to these incidents, Reinhard Draxler from Kelag in Austria said that responsibility for security of supply lies with the operator APG. In Austria it is unrealistic to guarantee a 100% exclusion of a blackout; Nevertheless, we are actively working on protective mechanisms in the power grid that automatically take effect in the event of disruptions in order to prevent such mass failures. The WDR emphasizes that regular exercises are carried out to prepare for such an emergency.

To prepare yourself for a potential blackout, it's a good idea to stock up on water and light sources, have crank or battery-operated radios on hand, and ensure adequate supplies of food and essential medications. It is also advisable to have cash on hand, as ATMs do not always work, especially in crisis situations. The German Federal Network Agency confirms that there are no large-scale blackouts to be expected in Germany, but preparations make sense here too.

The people of Portugal and Spain have shown that they can stick together even in difficult times. The cheering on the streets as power was restored shows an unbroken sense of community even in the midst of uncertainty and chaos.