Power returns after massive blackout in Spain and Portugal

A massive power outage struck Spain and Portugal yesterday and most has since been restored. It plunged tens of millions into darkness, halting flights, shutting down businesses, and causing traffic chaos.

By late Monday, power was mostly restored across both countries, with Spain’s grid operator reporting 99% supply resumed.

Both governments declared states of emergency, while Spain deployed 30,000 police officers.

Spain’s grid operator blamed a connection failure with France that caused a sudden loss of 15GW—60% of national demand. Internet traffic dropped 90% in Portugal and 80% in Spain, according to Cloudflare Radar.

The cause remains unknown, though cyberattacks have been ruled out. Emergency meetings are ongoing to manage the fallout.

Despite the recovery, major disruptions continue. Spain’s transport minister warned that trains, including high-speed rail, would operate at reduced capacity or remain suspended. Airports in Madrid, Lisbon, and other cities still face delays.