Massive blackout hits Spain, Portugal and southern France, cyberattack suspected
A vast power outage paralysed transport, hospitals and infrastructure across Spain, Portugal and southern France. Authorities have launched an investigation into a possible cyberattack.
Spain, Portugal and southern France plunged into darkness as investigators probe possible cyberattack
A sweeping power outage struck Spain, Portugal and parts of southern France on Monday, paralysing transport networks, supermarkets and critical infrastructure across the Iberian Peninsula, napolike.com reports. Spanish authorities have opened a formal investigation into whether the blackout was triggered by a cyberattack on the electricity grid.
The outage began shortly after noon, leaving millions without power. Madrid's metro system was immediately evacuated as a precaution, while regional and urban rail services on the Cercanías network came to a complete halt. National rail operator Renfe confirmed the total suspension of connections across the capital and beyond.
Traffic lights across Madrid failed simultaneously, causing widespread gridlock on major roads. The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) issued an urgent public appeal, calling on residents to avoid driving unless absolutely necessary, warning that the absence of traffic signals posed a persistent risk of accidents and obstructed access for emergency vehicles.
Airports and rail disrupted across two countries
The blackout extended to Portugal, where Lisbon Airport experienced severe disruption, with thousands of passengers stranded and numerous flights delayed or cancelled. The country's national rail network also suffered significant outages, interrupting major connections between north and south. Madrid Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat airports reported suspended or cancelled flights as the emergency deepened.
Southern France was also affected, with outages concentrated in the Occitanie region, particularly around Perpignan — the area known as French Catalonia. Several municipalities reported failures in transport and essential services, compounding the scale of the emergency.
Supermarkets close, restaurants face food losses
Across Spain, supermarkets were forced to shut or restrict operations as the blackout took hold. El Corte Inglés stores continued to trade but accepted cash payments only. Dia supermarkets closed entirely, maintaining limited activity in their warehouses. Carrefour kept its larger hypermarkets open while managing smaller outlets on a case-by-case basis.
In Seville, bars and restaurants were left without electricity and unable to refrigerate food. Some establishments closed temporarily; those with emergency generators attempted to stay open. Restaurant owners expressed growing concern over the prospect of losing large quantities of perishable produce, with significant financial losses anticipated. Ferries on the Guadalquivir River and the city's metro were also suspended.
Hospitals maintain emergency services; nuclear plants shut down
Madrid's public healthcare system managed to sustain essential services through emergency generators. Hospitals including Puerta de Hierro in Majadahonda and La Paz confirmed that emergency departments were operating normally. Some smaller healthcare centres reported difficulties due to the absence of backup power systems, though the regional health authority stated that no serious incidents had been recorded.
All operational nuclear power plants in Spain were shut down for safety reasons once the blackout struck. According to sources from the National Security Council, generators were activated to maintain control and cooling functions across the country's five active plants, which collectively house seven reactors.
Cyberattack investigation under way
The National Cryptology Center (CCN), part of Spain's intelligence services, and the National Institute for Computer Security (INCIBE) have both been tasked with determining whether the electricity system was deliberately targeted. The two agencies have been monitoring an increase in cyber threats in recent months.
Spanish officials noted that the country has become one of Europe's most frequently targeted nations for cyberattacks, a situation they link in part to Spain's geopolitical position in relation to the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Authorities have not ruled out a connection between those international dynamics and the power outage.
Gradual restoration begins
The national grid operator announced the activation of an emergency restoration plan. Official channels confirmed that a "zero" had been detected in the system — indicating a total grid failure — and that all required emergency protocols had been initiated. The recovery process involves the sequential restart of generation units and the reconstruction of transmission infrastructure.
Partial restoration was reported in areas including the Basque Country, where electricity returned after approximately ninety minutes. Authorities confirmed that restoration was proceeding gradually, with strategic locations and essential services given priority. Monitoring of the grid continued closely as technicians worked to bring remaining areas back online.
Source: The Sun