A massive power outage affected both Spain and Portugal, leaving the entire Iberian Peninsula without electricity. The blackout occurred early in the afternoon and impacted various essential services, including public transport, traffic systems, and hospitals. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged citizens to stay home and avoid unnecessary phone calls to prevent overloading communication lines.
The outage appears to have been triggered by an imbalance within Spain's electrical grid, leading to a disconnection from the European power system. Eduardo Prieto, director of the Spanish transmission system operator, noted that a significant oscillation in the network was at fault, although the exact cause of the power surge remains under investigation. By late afternoon, power had been restored to many northern and southern regions, aided by interconnections with France and Morocco.
Speculation about potential cyberattacks has arisen, especially given Spain's geopolitical stance. However, European Commission Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera stated there is no evidence of sabotage or cyber interference. A full investigation is underway to ascertain the specifics of the outage, which has been described as one of the most severe in recent European history.
In Portugal, where elections are approaching, authorities attributed the blackout to issues that originated in Spain. Caretaker Prime Minister Luís Montenegro expressed hope for a swift resolution to the outage. The blackout disrupted various events, including the Madrid Open tennis tournament and travel plans for numerous residents and politicians.
As the situation unfolded, reactions varied among residents, with some expressing relief at an unexpected early departure from work, while others voiced concerns about potential threats. The European Commission is closely monitoring the developments and coordinating with national authorities to understand the outage's impact.