Spain, Portugal declare emergency after mega power outage

Tue, 29 April 2025
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People use their phones to buy groceries in Barcelona. Pic: Bruna Casas/Reuters
People use their phones to buy groceries in Barcelona. Pic: Bruna Casas/Reuters
Spain and Portugal are reeling from a massive, unexplained power outage that knocked out traffic lights, caused chaos on roads and in airports, and prompted both countries to declare a state of emergency.

Portugal's grid operator Redes Energticas Nacionais (REN) said electrical supply was lost across the entire Iberian Peninsula, and in parts of France, shortly after midday. Hours later, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said authorities were still not sure what caused the blackout.

Read more here.