Massive power outage disrupts services across Portugal, Spain, and parts of France on April 28

Emergency services are scrambling to restore power across the Iberian Peninsula following a chaotic blackout impacting hospitals, transport, and airports. Officials are investigating the causes, including potential cyberattack links.

Sources:
Travel + Leisurelbc.co.ukBusinessinsider+1
Updated 42m ago
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The Headline

Immediate impact and emergency response

I ask all residents of Madrid to keep their movements to an absolute minimum and, if at all possible, to remain where they are. We want to keep all roads clear.
José Luis Martínez-Almeida
Mayor of Madrid
lbc.co.uk
The blackout was likely caused by a 'very strong oscillation in the electrical network' that caused Spain's power system to 'disconnect from the European system, and the collapse of the Iberian electricity network at 12:38 p.m.'
Eduardo Prieto
Red Eléctrica's Director of Services for System Operations
Businessinsider
Key Facts
  • Widespread power cuts led to disruption in hospitals and public transport in Spain and Portugal, causing chaos in major cities.Travel + Leisure2
  • Traffic lights were down and Madrid’s metro had to be evacuated amidst the chaos.1
  • The Spanish government is making efforts to resolve the massive blackout and restore services.lbc.co.uk

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Deep Dive

Official responses and ongoing investigations

The worst outage in Europe in over a decade.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez
Bloomberg
Estimated time to resolve the power issue
6-10 hours
lbc.co.uk
Key Facts
  • Red Electrica is working with companies to restore power while investigating if a cyberattack contributed to the outage.BusinessinsiderTravel + Leisure
  • Electrical distribution company E-REDES in Portugal indicated that the outage resulted from a problem in the European electricity grid.Travel + Leisure
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Background Context

Timeline of the significant power outage

Time of power system disconnection
12:38 p.m.
Businessinsider
Key Facts
  • Around 11:40 am (Lisbon time) on April 28, a massive power outage affected Portugal, Spain, and parts of France.Travel + Leisure

Other Facts in these Reports

Airlines reported significant delays affecting travelers to the Iberian Peninsula amid the outage.
Travel + Leisure
Power outages disrupted plays at the Madrid Open, further highlighting the blackout's impact.
Travel + Leisure
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