Spain And Portugal Report Widespread Power Outages

Topline

Parts of Spain and Portugal were hit by a widespread power outage on Monday morning, as officials in the two countries scrambled to detect the cause of the blackout and try to restore power.

Key Facts

According to Spanish newspaper El País, Spain’s National Cybersecurity Institute is closely monitoring the situation, although no cause has been established so far.

Portuguese cabinet minister Manuel Castro Almeida also told the country’s public broadcaster RTP that a cyberattack has not been ruled out as a potential cause.

Spain’s national grid operator Red Eléctrica acknowledged the blackout on X, and later tweeted that they were “beginning to recover power in the north and south of the peninsula.”

Portugal’s grid operated Redes Energéticas Nacionais, told RTP that a phased power restoration was being activated, but did not mention how long the outage could last.

In an X post, Spain’s state-owned railway company Renfe said the outage began at 12:30 pm and the entire national grid has been impacted.

Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.

Were Any Other Countries Impacted By The Outages?

Parts of France reported a brief outage shortly after the blackouts were reported in Spain and Portugal. French grid operator Réseau de Transport d'Électricité (RTE) confirmed this in a statement, according to Sky News. According to Euronews, some residents of Andorra, which borders Spain, also reported outages.

Has The Power Outage Caused Any Travel Disruptions?

Both public transport and road traffic have been impacted across several major cities in the Iberian peninsula, including Madrid, Lisbon and Barcelona. Spanish train operator Renfe said all departures have been halted since 12:30 p.m. local time. The Madrid Metro also announced the stoppage of its services while reports said several underground stations were being evacuated. In Portugal, the country’s flag carrier TAP Air issued a statement on Facebook requesting passengers to not travel to the airport as operations have been limited. Road traffic in both countries were also impacted as clips shared on social media showed chaotic scenes at intersections as traffic lights failed to work.

This is a developing story.