Tue Apr 29 09:44:47 UTC 2025: ## Iberian Peninsula Recovers From Widespread Blackout; Investigation Underway
**MADRID/LISBON** – Millions in Spain and Portugal are breathing a sigh of relief after a massive power outage affecting nearly the entire Iberian Peninsula was largely resolved by Tuesday morning. Power has been restored to over 99% of Spain and all of Portugal’s 89 substations, according to national grid operators Red Eléctrica and REN, respectively. The outage, which began Monday, left millions without electricity, stranding commuters on public transport and in elevators, and disrupting phone and internet services.
The cause of the unprecedented blackout remains under investigation. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that “all potential causes” are being analyzed, urging the public to avoid speculation and misinformation. He noted a sudden loss of approximately 15 gigawatts of electricity – around 60% of the power being consumed at the time. While Red Eléctrica’s director of network operations cited a disconnection from the French power grid as a contributing factor, the root cause remains unclear. The Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, suggested the problem likely originated in Spain.
Reports suggest that a “rare atmospheric phenomenon” may have played a role, though this has not been confirmed. Other possible causes, including cyberattacks, are being explored. Both Spanish and Portuguese governments convened crisis meetings Tuesday to address the situation and the ongoing investigation.
The blackout, described as “exceptional and totally extraordinary” by Red Eléctrica, is the second major European power system failure in recent months. In March, a significant power outage at London’s Heathrow Airport caused widespread disruption to air travel. The scale of Monday’s outage, affecting a combined population of roughly 60 million, has prompted concerns about the resilience of European power grids. As power is restored, the focus shifts to determining the exact cause and preventing future incidents of this magnitude.
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