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Several people at a train station in Spain during the blackout. Alamy Stock Photo

Spanish court investigating if massive blackout in Spain and Portugal was act of 'sabotage'

Barely a corner of the peninsula, which has a joint population of almost 60 million people, escaped the blackout.

LAST UPDATE | 29 Apr

SPAIN’S TOP CRIMINAL court said it is investigating whether the huge blackout that paralysed the Iberian Peninsula was “an act of computer sabotage on critical infrastructure”.

Although the causes are unknown, “cyberterrorism is among” the potential explanations, while the “critical situation” generated for the population meant an investigation was necessary, the Audiencia Nacional said in a statement.

The blackout resulted in the stranding of passengers in trains and hundreds of elevators while millions saw phone and internet coverage die.

Electricity had been restored to more than 90% of mainland Spain early today, the REE power operator said. 

Barely a corner of the peninsula, which has a joint population of almost 60 million people, escaped the blackout. But no firm cause for the shutdown has yet emerged, though wild rumours spread on messaging networks about cyber attacks.

Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said the source of the outage was “probably in Spain”. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said “all the potential causes” were being analysed and warned the public “not to speculate” because of the risk of “misinformation”.

Sanchez said about 15 gigawatts of electricity, more than half of the power being consumed at the time, “suddenly disappeared” in about five seconds.

Sanchez was unable to say when power would be completely restored in Spain and warned that some workers would have to stay home Tuesday. Montenegro said Portugal’s power would be back “within hours”.

Power was restored overnight to around 6.2 million households in Portugal out of 6.5 million, according to the national electricity grid operator.

The outage rippled briefly into southwest France while Morocco saw disruption to some internet providers and airport check-in systems.

People were “stunned”, according to Carlos Candori, a 19-year-old construction worker who had to exit the paralysed Madrid metro system. “This has never happened in Spain”.

“There’s no (phone) coverage, I can’t call my family, my parents, nothing: I can’t even go to work,” he told AFP.

several-people-at-the-movistar-arena-stadium-where-they-will-spend-the-night-after-the-electricity-blackout-in-madrid-spain-on-april-29-2025-alejandro-martinez-velez-europa-press-04292025-eur Several people spent the night at the Movistar Arena stadium in Madrid, Spain Alamy Alamy

Cash queues

In Madrid and cities across Spain and Portugal, panicked customers rushed to withdraw cash from banks, and streets filled with crowds floundering for a phone signal. Long lines formed for taxis and buses.

With stop lights knocked out, police struggled to keep densely congested traffic moving and authorities urged motorists to stay home.

In Madrid alone 286 rescue operations were carried out to free people trapped in lifts, regional authorities said.

Trains were halted across the country and on Tuesday morning, three trains were still stranded in Spain with passengers onboard, according to Transport Minister Oscar Puente.

Several high-speed rail lines are expected to resume normal service, including between Madrid-Barcelona and Madrid-Valencia, but disruptions remain between Barcelona-Alicante and between Madrid-Galicia (northwest), Puente wrote on X.

Railway stations in Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia, Seville and four other major cities were kept open all night so that stranded passengers could sleep there.

Spain’s nuclear power plants automatically went offline as a safety precaution, with diesel generators maintaining them in a “safe condition”, the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) said.

lisbon-portugal-28th-apr-2025-supermarket-with-empty-food-boxes-during-the-large-blackout-of-electricity-and-communication-networks-affecting-portugal-and-spain-leading-many-people-to-go-and-buy-s Supermarket with empty food boxes in Lisbon Alamy Alamy

‘Serious disruption’

Sanchez said the blackout, which hit just after midday, caused “serious disruption” for millions and “economic losses in businesses, in companies, in industries”.

The European Commission said it was in contact with Spain and Portugal over the crisis. European Council President Antonio Costa said on X: “There are no indications of any cyberattack”.

The huge power cut disrupted flights to and from Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon, European air traffic organisation Eurocontrol said.

As of 7am, all Spanish airports were back to normal, the operator said.

Dublin Airport is also operating as normal this morning since power was restored.

In a statement, a daa spokesperson said: “Thankfully the issues which affected airports in Spain and Portugal on Monday have subsided and flights are operating as normal this morning.

“At Dublin Airport we’ve seen a full schedule of first wave flights depart, including many to Spain and Portugal, and we’re pleased to report no delays of note so far today.

The only cancellations so far today (a Ryanair flight to Brussels Airport and the return flight back to Dublin) relates to industrial action at Brussels Airport. In total on Monday there were 13 flights cancelled in and out of Dublin Airport.”

Greenland affected

Parts of Greenland were deprived of phone, SMS and internet connections, possibly linked to the outage on the Iberian Peninsula, the operator said.

The affected areas on Greenland were located in the north and south of the vast Arctic territory.

Huge outages struck Tunisia in September 2023, Sri Lanka in August 2020, and Argentina and Uruguay in June 2019. In July 2012, India experienced a vast blackout.

In Europe, in November 2006, 10 million people were left without power for an hour in France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain. That was caused by a failure in Germany’s grid.

© AFP 2025

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    Mute Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson
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    Apr 29th 2025, 7:52 AM

    Look for missing hv copper cables. The smellies at it again?

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    Mute Basildon Joe
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    Apr 29th 2025, 9:07 AM

    @Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson: I was due to fly out to Marbella but im not taking the chance, don’t wanna be stranded there without power or Wi-Fi. Spain need to get their shit together, they lost my business this week

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    Mute Clare Power
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    Apr 29th 2025, 9:58 AM

    @Basildon Joe: a national day of mourning should happen just for you joe my old son

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    Mute Basildon Joe
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    Apr 29th 2025, 10:34 AM

    @Clare Power: I tell you what Clare they are lucky it didn’t happen peak season. Benidorm would have been chaos and rightfully smashed up in protest.

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Apr 29th 2025, 10:43 AM

    @Basildon Joe: Proud of you Joe. The climate and I thank you for not flying and putting the climate first. Not that you were ever going to Spain in the first place but we thank you anyway

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    Mute John Rock
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    Apr 29th 2025, 10:55 AM

    @Basildon Joe: I’m sure they will survive…

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    Mute Basildon Joe
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    Apr 29th 2025, 10:55 AM

    @Ger Whelan: to be fair Ger I did not forsake my trip for climate reasons but I was afraid of living in third world conditions this week.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Apr 29th 2025, 10:59 AM

    @Basildon Joe: Is this like your alleged ‘trip’ to Switzerland at Christmas, when you described it as a Scandinavian country?

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    Mute Nemethon
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    Apr 29th 2025, 11:18 AM

    @Basildon Joe: heaven forbid no WiFi life would simply not go on. Give your head a wobble lad. That would be a true holiday no lecky no phones no WiFi nobody ringing you to see what the weather is like or do you have phone signal ( even though their yapping the ear off you ) There’s places in the world who package holidays like that

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    Mute Gearoid MacEachaidh
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    Apr 29th 2025, 11:23 AM

    @Nemethon: the best holiday I had in years was a week in the wilds of Wicklow with no WiFi and terrible phone coverage. It was bliss to switch off

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Apr 29th 2025, 11:54 AM

    @Basildon Joe: To be fair Joe, You have to actually have to book a trip before you can forsake it.

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    Mute tony hilton
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    Apr 29th 2025, 11:54 AM

    @Gearoid MacEachaidh: it’s the best. Did it last August for a week in a cabin on a lake with no electricity. Absolutely loved it. Going again this August and can’t wait.

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    Mute Basildon Joe
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    Apr 29th 2025, 12:09 PM

    @Nemethon: true true. However if I want the bare basics I’ll book a trip to Swaziland for half the price and switch off proper with a local tribe. I know a good few villages there.

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    Mute Fergus O'Donnell
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    Apr 29th 2025, 12:19 PM

    @Basildon Joe: they’re lucky.

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Apr 29th 2025, 12:30 PM

    @Basildon Joe: Well, you’re either a liar or a snowflake but definitely a troll. Hope you stay safe under your bridge.

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    Mute Basildon Joe
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    Apr 29th 2025, 1:50 PM

    @Jack Hayes: a bitter soul is Jacksie

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    Mute Basildon Joe
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    Apr 29th 2025, 2:02 PM

    @John Doe: he is a big loser and biggest troll on here that Brendan

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    Mute Basildon Joe
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    Apr 29th 2025, 2:50 PM

    @TEc1XNcQ: coming from the resident billy bullshit bags?? Walking in the snow 20 miles to feed the elderly I remember? What a pillock!

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    Mute Basildon Joe
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    Apr 29th 2025, 6:10 PM

    @TEc1XNcQ: you really do have sunstroke or dementia sunshine. You are some pilchard.

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    Mute D
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    Apr 29th 2025, 8:57 AM

    I love Spain

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    Mute Rafa C
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    Apr 29th 2025, 7:50 AM

    Aliens.

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    Mute Meh Meh
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    Apr 29th 2025, 8:22 AM

    @Rafa C: @Rafa C: It certainly sounds like a HG Wells ‘War of the Worlds’ type situation. Extra Terrestrials skimming 15 Gigawatts from the Earth. Remember “V” Where Aliens were “Borrowing” fresh water supplies?

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    Mute Rafa C
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    Apr 29th 2025, 8:48 AM

    @Meh Meh: Took one look at us and hightailed it outta here – not before zapping some much needed juice for their journey.

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    Mute Tracy Moore
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    Apr 29th 2025, 10:44 AM

    @Rafa C: Or someone somewhere running an experiment they shouldn’t

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    Mute Rafa C
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    Apr 29th 2025, 10:48 AM

    @Tracy Moore: Like using bubble bath in the washing machine.

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    Mute Ciaran O Donoghue
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    Apr 29th 2025, 7:36 AM

    Coincidence? I think not…

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    Mute Tom L
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    Apr 29th 2025, 8:06 AM

    The Sun, no not the rag.

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    Mute Wendy Arbour aka Luas Vuitton - Dub Drag Queen
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    Apr 29th 2025, 9:43 AM

    Kneecap have apologised. Given our nation’s history it is encouraging to see they have done something the murderous Brit war machine and securocrat agendists have not. Gwan Derry and Belfast!

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    Mute Darius Guppy
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    Apr 29th 2025, 6:49 PM

    @Wendy Arbour aka Luas Vuitton – Dub Drag Queen: again, factual ignorance, there have been British apologies. Further, if you include that half arsed comment as an apology you need help. They have helped unite Labour and The Conservatives though.

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    Mute flower stall
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    Apr 29th 2025, 11:21 AM

    The lights went out yesterday forva Dublin mother sent to prison in Manchester because she took her campaign to Manchester, #bringharryhome

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    Mute Darius Guppy
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    Apr 29th 2025, 6:50 PM

    @flower stall: she breached the in camera rule, which is essential in hearings involving children.

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    Mute edwardjp
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    Apr 29th 2025, 7:47 AM

    Cyber attack, how else could it happen. Ireland for the Irish.

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    Mute Neil Hanratty
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    Apr 29th 2025, 8:03 AM

    @edwardjp: what??

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    Mute Wendy Arbour aka Luas Vuitton - Dub Drag Queen
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    Apr 29th 2025, 9:38 AM

    @edwardjp: Get some professional mental help. Ask Mammy.

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    Mute Sun Rise
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    Apr 29th 2025, 11:47 AM

    @edwardjp: It takes a very special person to turn this into an “Ireland for the Irish’ issue. You cl0wn.

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    Mute Anthony Curran
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    Apr 29th 2025, 4:04 PM

    @John Doe: Shurrup ye sap

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    Mute edwardjp
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    Apr 29th 2025, 9:49 PM

    @Sun Rise: Ireland for the Irish

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    Mute edwardjp
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    Apr 29th 2025, 9:50 PM

    @John Doe: get them out

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    Mute edwardjp
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    Apr 29th 2025, 9:50 PM

    @Wendy Arbour aka Luas Vuitton – Dub Drag Queen: Ireland for the Irish

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    Mute edwardjp
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    Apr 29th 2025, 9:51 PM

    @Neil Hanratty: Ireland for the Irish.

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    Mute Sean Collins
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    Apr 29th 2025, 11:44 AM

    Was nice just sitting in the dark for a while, no mobiles and ok our own wee bubble.

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    Mute Wendy Arbour aka Luas Vuitton - Dub Drag Queen
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    Apr 29th 2025, 10:41 AM

    “Misthur Flasheeee”. Jesus wept. Nicola Tallant’s gift to humanity.

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    Mute honey badger
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    Apr 29th 2025, 7:50 AM

    I thought the commentariat here yesterday had solved the case…

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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Apr 29th 2025, 10:26 AM

    Zig and Zag strike again!

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    Mute AnthonyK
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    Apr 29th 2025, 8:26 AM

    Blasted Russians at it again.

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    Mute John Paul Long
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    Apr 29th 2025, 3:34 PM

    1 word. Israel!

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    Mute RIP
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    Apr 29th 2025, 10:30 AM

    Putin’s Russia

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Apr 29th 2025, 10:45 AM

    @RIP: Any evidence to back this claim or are you just making it up?

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    Mute Nemethon
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    Apr 29th 2025, 1:30 PM

    @Ger Whelan: more the Israelis flexing their muscles I’d say considering Spain’s support for Palestine. It if Isreal was responsible than that is tantamount to a declaration of war on Europe it it could also be the Russians who were responsible but will make it look like Isreal. Who knows and I guess we’ll never know the full extent of the situation.

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    Mute Darius Guppy
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    Apr 29th 2025, 6:52 PM

    @Nemethon: oh please, yet they didn’t touch us and we would be a far softer security.

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    Mute Dvsespaña
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    Apr 29th 2025, 6:27 PM

    Could the Journal.ie do a fact check to see if aliens from outer space were responsible for the massive blackout?

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    Mute Graham
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    Apr 29th 2025, 2:51 PM

    Electrocute the responsible.

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    Mute Barry Kent
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    Apr 29th 2025, 4:25 PM

    Stock up on toilet roll

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    Mute Fergus O'Donnell
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    Apr 30th 2025, 1:44 AM

    The Zionists did this.

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