Spain and Portugal Declare Emergency as Power Outage Disrupts Millions

Madrid/Lisbon: Widespread Spain Portugal power outages have forced both countries to declare states of emergency, affecting millions of people. The blackouts disrupted traffic signals, halted rail services, and closed airports, creating chaos in daily life. Authorities are investigating potential grid failures, but the exact cause remains unknown.

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Emergency Meetings and Rapid Response

With a combined population of around 60 million, Spain and Portugal convened emergency meetings to coordinate rapid response strategies. Portugal’s grid operator reported that the outage began shortly after noon. France experienced partial outages as well, though power was restored within a few hours, according to AFP.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the cause remains unclear but assured that efforts to restore power are ongoing. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro declared an energy crisis, noting that fully restoring electricity is “complicated.”

Learn about Portugal’s energy grid

Leaders and Experts Respond to the Crisis

Traffic jams stretched for miles in Madrid after traffic lights went dark. European Council President and former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa confirmed that there is no evidence of a cyberattack, despite the massive disruption.

Experts warn that prolonged Spain Portugal power outages could affect hospitals, water supply, and other essential services if not resolved quickly. Both nations have mobilized emergency teams and coordinated with neighboring countries to stabilize the power grid.

World Energy Council on Europe’s Power Grids 

Public Advice During the Blackout

Authorities have urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel, conserve electricity where possible, and stay updated via official news channels. Hospitals and emergency services are on high alert to ensure critical care continues uninterrupted.

This outage highlights the vulnerability of European grids to sudden failures and underscores the importance of infrastructure modernization and regional cooperation in energy management.