Lights Out: Massive Blackout Cripples Spain And Portugal, Sparks Days Of Chaos

Power has been restored to tens of millions across Spain and Portugal following a massive blackout, but transportation disruptions are expected to linger as authorities scramble to determine the cause of one of the largest power failures in recent European history.

The outage, which struck on Monday, plunged nearly the entire Iberian Peninsula and parts of southern France into darkness, shutting down businesses, stalling elevators, disabling traffic lights, and wreaking havoc on roads and airports.

Both Spain and Portugal remain under states of emergency. According to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the grid operator reported a sudden loss of 15 gigawatts of electricity in just five seconds—about 60% of Spain's total power demand at the time. Experts warn it could take weeks to fully understand what triggered the electrical meltdown.

By Tuesday morning, 99% of power had been restored in Spain, but the transport minister warned that many trains, including the high-speed AVE network, would remain suspended or operate at limited capacity. In Portugal, power was largely back by late Monday night, prompting cheers across the country. However, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro pointed the finger at Spain, stating, "The issue did not originate in Portugal. Everything indicates it started across the border."

The blackout had sweeping effects. Subway systems failed mid-journey, and in Madrid, traffic snarled instantly as signals blinked out. "I was driving when all the lights went out. It turned into a bit of a jungle," said Luis Ibáñez Jiménez. "I had to accelerate to avoid a massive bus."

The governments of both nations—home to nearly 60 million people combined—rushed to respond. Spain's Interior Ministry declared emergencies in the regions of Andalucía, Extremadura, Murcia, La Rioja, and Madrid. In Portugal, Montenegro announced an energy crisis, warning the grid’s full recovery would be "a complex operation."

Madrid's mayor urged residents to stay home and avoid contacting emergency services unless absolutely necessary. Later, local leaders called for a national emergency declaration and even asked the military to be deployed to manage the situation.

Despite fears, officials say there is no evidence of a cyberattack. European Council President Antonio Costa, Portugal’s former prime minister, emphasized that the cause remains unclear but does not appear malicious.

João Faria Conceição, head of Portugal’s grid operator REN, explained that Portugal was hit hard because it relies on imported electricity from Spain during the morning hours—when Spain’s solar power is cheaper due to the time difference. While Spain received emergency electricity from France and Morocco, Portugal had no backup.

The blackout halted life across major Iberian cities like Madrid, Lisbon, Barcelona, Seville, and Valencia. These hubs, essential for transport, finance, and tourism, experienced hours of disarray. Card payments were replaced by cash, police directed traffic by hand, and shops shuttered. Madrid’s firefighters responded to 174 elevator rescues, while panicked shoppers cleared store shelves.

Fortunately, critical infrastructure held up. Nuclear facilities in Spain remained operational, and Portugal’s medical emergency agency activated its contingency plan, running vital services on backup generators. Spanish hospitals did the same.

Travel, however, suffered greatly. Airports in both countries suspended or delayed flights, with passengers stranded in terminals without air conditioning, running water, or card payment options. TAP Air Portugal advised people not to come to the airport. In Lisbon, traveler Ellie Kenny described long lines in the dark and stores only accepting cash.

Train services were also suspended. Videos from Madrid showed metro stations taped off and darkened trains halted mid-route.

Even sporting events felt the blow. Matches at the Madrid Open tennis tournament were suspended as the courts lost power.

Southern France experienced brief power dips, including in the Basque region, though service was quickly restored, according to France’s electricity operator RTE.

As night fell on Monday, millions were left in the dark—literally and figuratively—wondering when the lights would come back on and what had caused the outage in the first place. With trains still suspended and airports battling a backlog, the effects of this unprecedented blackout are expected to ripple through the week.