Tue Apr 29 03:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Spain and Portugal Recover from Massive Power Outage

**MADRID/LISBON** – A massive power outage affecting Spain and Portugal, plunging millions into darkness on Monday, is largely resolved, with power restored to almost all areas overnight. While the cause remains under investigation, both Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro have ruled out a cyberattack.

The outage caused widespread disruption, including mass transit cancellations, and led to a state of emergency being declared in several Spanish regions. Thousands were stranded at train stations and airports, with some reporting long delays and difficulties accessing transportation.

As of Tuesday morning, Red Eléctrica, Spain’s power operator, reports that 99.16% of power has been restored to mainland Spain, and all substations on the transmission grid are operational. In Portugal, approximately 6.2 million out of 6.5 million households have electricity restored.

While the majority of power is back online, a state of emergency remains in place in Spain’s Madrid, Andalusia, and Extremadura regions, granting the central government greater control over public order and other essential services. This measure allows for the national government to assist regional authorities in managing the aftermath of the widespread disruption.

Although the number of flight cancellations remains relatively low (below 500 across both countries), transport disruption continues. Public transportation in Madrid is largely operational, with the metro running and buses operating normally and free of charge for the day.

Despite the ongoing recovery efforts, Spanish authorities are emphasizing calm and urging citizens to limit unnecessary travel and mobile phone use to ease pressure on strained networks. The police presence has been increased to maintain public order and prevent security incidents.

European energy officials suggest a technical issue with an energy connection between France and Spain may have played a role in the incident, but further investigation is needed to determine the full extent of the cause. The incident is described by a European trade body as a “50 year, if not 100 year incident,” highlighting the scale and rarity of the event.

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