Photo credit: www.theguardian.com
Morning opening: How did it happen?
Jakub Krupa
Following a substantial blackout, power has been steadily restored across much of Spain and Portugal. This incident left numerous passengers stranded in trains and elevators, with millions experiencing interruptions in phone and internet services.
By Tuesday morning, authorities confirmed that power supplies were nearly back to normal as the electric grid regained stability after what is regarded as the largest power outage in recent European history.
On Monday night, many individuals went to sleep amid darkness, while others shared online footage as they rejoiced over the gradual restoration of power after extended hours without service.
However, this incident raises critical questions for a continent eager to showcase its commitment to energy security, especially following a high-profile summit on the topic just last week. There are several pressing inquiries that demand immediate attention.
How can such a widespread blackout occur, affecting approximately 60 million individuals? What were the underlying causes? More importantly, what measures can be taken to prevent a recurrence – whether at this scale or greater?
Amid the chaos, misinformation regarding the reasons behind the blackout gained traction. Both the Spanish and Portuguese governments had to issue warnings against unfounded speculations circulating online.
Although power has resumed, the aftermath of this outage is likely to linger, as transportation systems such as trains and flights have experienced disruptions.
Stay tuned for continuous updates.
It’s Tuesday, 29 April 2025, I’m Jakub Krupa, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
Share
Key events
Show key events only
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
No evidence to suggest intrusion into operator’s control system
Sam Jones
On Tuesday morning, Eduardo Prieto, the head of services for the operator, stated that initial investigations have allowed us to determine that “we can rule out a cybersecurity incident.”
He emphasized that there was no indication “of any intrusion into the Red Eléctrica control system.”
Share
Power cut not caused by cybersecurity incident, Spanish grid operator says
Spanish grid operator Red Eléctrica has tentatively concluded that the power outage was not linked to a cybersecurity event, as reported by El País and EFE news agency.
Share
‘No unusual phenomena,’ Spanish met office dismisses possible explanation of outage
Sam Jones
According to Spain’s national meteorological office, Aemet, weather conditions were not a factor.
“On April 28, we observed no unusual meteorological or atmospheric phenomena, nor any sudden temperature variations in our network of stations,” Aemet stated.
Share
Updated at 12.12 CEST
Spain recovers from power cut – in pictures
Passengers wait on a platform as metro operations resume partially, following the restoration of power after a massive outage affected Spain and Portugal, in Madrid, Spain. A policewoman manages a crowd of passengers waiting to board their train at Santa Justa railway station in Seville, Spain. Women embrace, celebrating their arrival on a high-speed train at Joaquín Sorolla station in Valencia, Spain.
Power cut originated outside Portugal, minister says
The Portuguese infrastructure minister, Miguel Pinto Luz, has reiterated claims that the blackout’s origins lie outside Portugal as investigations continue, according to Diário de Notícias.
The Lisbon metro appears to have resumed operations.
Share
Updated at 11.41 CEST
Spanish self-employed count losses after outage
Estimates from the Association of Self-Employed Workers suggest that the Spanish self-employed may have incurred losses of up to €1.3 billion due to Monday’s power outage.
According to the EFE news agency, the group noted that “today remains challenging” with connectivity and transport issues lingering.
The hospitality and retail sectors were reported to be hit hardest.
Share
Updated at 11.41 CEST
Reports from Portugal indicate that earlier today, the Lisbon Metro was still experiencing outages as the country continued to deal with the repercussions of the blackout.
While service is expected to gradually resume, technical issues appear to be hindering updates on their operational status.
Share
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced this morning that 99.95% of energy demand has been restored, with all substations operational, as he attended a meeting of the national security council.
“I am grateful to all citizens for once again demonstrating responsibility and civic spirit,” he remarked.
The Portuguese government is also expected to convene later this morning, having earlier issued a brief update confirming the return to largely normal operations.
Source
www.theguardian.com