Major power blackout hits Spain, Portugal, disrupting daily life

New Delhi, Apr 28: A widespread power outage struck parts of Spain and Portugal today, disrupting transportation, commerce, and daily life. The Portuguese electricity operator attributed the blackout to a rare atmospheric phenomenon linked to temperature fluctuations. Officials ruled out the possibility of a cyberattack as the cause.

In Madrid, authorities urged residents to stay off the roads and reserve calls and batteries of their phones for emergency services in urgent situations. Traffic signals were reported down in multiple areas, contributing to heavy congestion. In Portugal, police reported the shutdown of metro services in Lisbon and Porto, while long queues formed at ATMS as electronic payment systems failed across major cities.

Spain’s electricity network said earlier that restoring power could take between six and ten hours. Reports across the region described people teaching classes without lights, crowds gathering at pop-up vendors for food and drinks, and long searches for open petrol stations.

Air travel was also affected. Several airports, including Lisbon, Madrid, and Barcelona, experienced operational disruptions. Airlines advised passengers to monitor local travel updates and check flight trackers for the latest information. Passengers unable to travel were offered free transfers within 72 hours or flight vouchers. Authorities continued efforts through the afternoon and evening to restore normal service, though the full extent of the disruption remained unclear as nightfall approached.