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Date Published: 02/05/2025

Blackout of the decade: The story behind Spain's biggest power outage

The country is starting to get back to normality after the deadly tragedy, but big questions still remain

On Monday April 28, 2025, Spain experienced its most extensive electricity blackout in living memory. Power disappeared almost instantaneously from homes, hospitals, businesses and transport systems across the country, as well as in parts of Portugal, Andorra and southern France.

The outage, while relatively short-lived in some areas, exposed not just how dependent modern life is on a stable power supply and internet connection, but also how unprepared much of the population remains for such disruptions.

A timeline of the blackout

At around midday on Monday, without warning, 60% of Spain’s entire electricity supply vanished within five seconds. Red Eléctrica, the country’s national grid operator, described the event as unprecedented. This was not a typical supply hiccough; it was a catastrophic failure of a kind never seen before in Spain.

Initial confusion gave way to growing concern as it became clear the outage was nationwide. Many residents first assumed it was a local problem: a tripped fuse box or accidental cable damage. But the absence of mobile phone signals, internet access and working ATMs soon painted a starker picture. In homes reliant on electric water pumps, even running water was unavailable. Businesses struggled to operate, with card payments impossible and tills frozen.

Hospitals ran on emergency generators to maintain life-saving equipment, while lift users were trapped mid-journey. Trains came to a standstill, and without traffic lights, roads became hazardous. As darkness fell and street lighting failed to activate, anxiety deepened.

For many, the experience highlighted how little they had prepared for such a scenario. Only weeks earlier, the European Union had advised households to keep basic emergency kits, including non-perishable food, bottled water, battery-powered radios, and fuel sources sufficient for 72 hours of self-sufficiency. That guidance had largely been dismissed at the time; by Monday afternoon, it looked like prescient foresight, or perhaps something more sinister in some people’s minds.

Supermarkets were quickly overwhelmed by shoppers stocking up on bottled drinks, batteries and tinned goods. With refrigeration off, perishable foods deteriorated fast. Residents were urged to minimise fridge and freezer access, but nonetheless, large quantities of meat and dairy had to be discarded.

In some areas, power returned within hours. In others, particularly rural towns, the blackout lasted more than 24 hours. Even on Tuesday morning, certain regions were still without electricity. The chaos extended to transport networks, with Renfe, Spain’s rail operator, offering refunds or exchanges to passengers stranded on halted trains, some of whom were trapped overnight in carriages with limited water and no information.

480 personas que viajaban en un tren que se ha parado en Toro (Zamora) por el #apagón han sido evacuadas con todo su equipaje a Zamora y Medina del campo.#AuxiliosGC pic.twitter.com/foezbUKEix
— Guardia Civil (@guardiacivil) April 28, 2025

Hoy auxiliamos a los 280 pasajeros de un tren parado en la proximidades de Bembibre (León) evacuados por ambulancias y patrullas seguridad ciudadana.#apagón #GuardiaCivil pic.twitter.com/1zs2hGsRTe
— Guardia Civil (@guardiacivil) April 28, 2025

The human cost of the tragedy and the government’s response

Tragically, the outage had fatal consequences. In Galicia, for instance, a family attempting to run medical equipment using a petrol generator indoors succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning. In Valencia, a woman dependent on an electric oxygen machine died, and in Madrid, a candle used during the blackout started a fire that led to another death and numerous injuries.

In Málaga, a British tourist on holiday on the Costa del Sol gave birth in the reception area of her hotel, with the expert help from the newly hired receptionist.

Across the country, emergency services responded to multiple incidents linked to unsafe generator use, while police and firefighters were mobilised to save many people stuck in lifts or to carry those with limited mobility up and down the stairs of their homes.

En un geriátrico de Pravia, (Asturias), con el apoyo de efectivos de bomberos, hemos subido a sus lugares de descanso a 25 personas que tienen problemas de movilidad y no podían usar los ascensores por el #apagón. pic.twitter.com/yHMvAzzx9o
— Guardia Civil (@guardiacivil) April 28, 2025

The Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations (CEOE) has estimated the economic impact at €1.6 billion, with small businesses and restaurants particularly affected. Nevertheless, the financial markets remained largely unaffected. The Ibex 35 index ended the day in positive territory, reflecting investor confidence in the outage being a one-off event.

At the request of eight of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities, the government declared an ‘emergency of national interest’ to be able to offer assistance more quickly and effectively to the worst-affected areas by bypassing the usual official channels. They will also now be better able to recompense these communities for the losses they have suffered as a result of the blackout.

What caused the Spain and Portugal blackout?

The cause of the blackout remains unclear. Spanish President Pedro Sánchez indicated the fault stemmed from a brief failure in a Red Eléctrica connection, but deeper investigations are ongoing. Speculation has been rife, with theories ranging from a cyberattack to technical failure involving solar energy sources.

While Sánchez initially dismissed the idea of a cyberattack, he later acknowledged that authorities were still examining whether a digital intrusion, possibly via one of Red Eléctrica’s subcontractors, might have played a role. Others have questioned whether Spain’s rapid transition to renewable energy contributed to system instability. One working theory is that a large-scale solar disconnection in the southwest triggered a cascading failure. If true, this would suggest not sabotage, but a vulnerability in system design.

Conspiracy theories have flourished online, with some public figures hinting at foreign involvement without offering evidence. In contrast, experts and government officials caution against premature conclusions and urge patience as investigations proceed.

The blackout has reignited debate over the balance between sustainable energy goals and grid resilience. While Spain has made significant progress in renewable energy adoption, this crisis highlights the fragility of the system during periods of stress or technical malfunction.

Despite the disruption, public behaviour during the blackout was largely commendable. There were no significant reports of looting or disorder. In many towns, drivers paused at junctions to allow pedestrians to cross safely, and neighbours shared candles, food and whatever information they had. Community spirit endured, even as official communication channels failed.

What the blackout ultimately revealed is that while Spain’s population adapted with remarkable resolve, the country’s energy infrastructure and emergency readiness require urgent review. The government has launched a full inquiry into the event, and in the meantime, residents have been left not just with a renewed appreciation for electricity we all take for granted, but also a lingering question: could it happen again?

Image: Policía Nacional

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