Tue Apr 29 03:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Widespread Power Outage Cripples Spain, Portugal, and Parts of France

**MADRID/LISBON/PARIS** – A major power outage swept across Spain and Portugal on Monday, causing widespread disruption and impacting parts of France. The outage, which Spanish officials described as “exceptional and extraordinary,” resulted in the suspension of the Madrid Open tennis tournament, widespread transport chaos, and the closure of the Spanish Parliament.

Red Eléctrica, Spain’s national grid operator, reported that over 20% of the Iberian Peninsula’s electricity demand was restored by Monday evening, with power progressively returning to 45% of Spain’s grid. E-Redes, Portugal’s energy supplier, confirmed outages across several regions in both countries, including Catalonia, Andalusia, Aragon, the Basque Country, Castile, Léon, Extremadura, and Murcia in Spain. France also experienced brief outages in the southwestern Basque Country.

The cause of the outage remains undetermined, though initial reports suggest a voltage imbalance within the European power grid may have been responsible. Spanish officials attributed the problem to a “very strong oscillation in the electrical network,” which caused Spain’s grid to disconnect from the European system. The European Commission has ruled out sabotage or a cyberattack as the cause.

The power failure brought major cities to a standstill. Train services were suspended across Spain, the Madrid Metro ceased operation, and several underground stations were evacuated. Lisbon and Barcelona also experienced significant transport disruptions. While Barcelona’s El Prat Airport continued operating with limited services, TAP Air Portugal urged passengers not to travel to Lisbon Airport due to operational limitations. Road traffic was heavily impacted due to malfunctioning traffic lights.

The Madrid Open was abruptly halted mid-tournament, with three matches in progress at the time of the outage. Organizers cited safety concerns as the reason for cancellation.

While power has been largely restored in some areas, the full impact of the widespread outage is still being assessed. Investigations into the precise cause of the incident are ongoing.

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