Spain Declares State of Emergency After Massive Power Outage Cripples Country

Spain has declared a state of emergency as authorities scramble to restore stability following a massive power outage that left large swathes of the country including Madrid, Andalusia, and Extremadura without electricity, internet, or critical infrastructure for several hours.

The blackout, which swept across much of the Iberian Peninsula, also affected parts of Portugal and southern France. Spanish officials have confirmed that power has been restored to about half the country, but many regions remain in crisis mode.

Interior Minister María Jesús Montero announced the state of emergency late Monday, stating that the government is mobilizing national resources to assist regional authorities. “We are dealing with an unprecedented disruption,” Montero said. “Hospitals, transport systems, and communications have all been hit. Our priority is the safety and welfare of Spanish citizens.”

Government Still Investigating Cause

In a national address, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the cause of the outage remains unclear. “We have no conclusive information at this time,” Sánchez told reporters. “All possibilities, including cyberattack and infrastructure failure, are being investigated.”

Spain’s national grid operator, Red Eléctrica, confirmed that the power cut originated from an unidentified fault in the high-voltage transmission system but offered no further details. Emergency services have been dispatched nationwide, with the military assisting in hospital support, traffic management, and communications recovery.

Airports, Hospitals, and Transport Disrupted

Flights were grounded at Madrid-Barajas and other major airports during the outage, though operations have since partially resumed. Several hospitals had to cancel elective surgeries and rely on backup generators. In Madrid, traffic lights failed across major intersections, causing widespread chaos on the roads.

European Response and Support

The European Commission has offered emergency technical support, while France and Portugal said they are closely monitoring the situation. In Brussels, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said the blackout raises serious questions about regional energy security and infrastructure resilience.

“Events like this underscore the urgent need for grid modernization and energy system coordination across Europe,” Simson said.

With partial power restored and investigations underway, Spanish citizens are bracing for a long road to full recovery — and answers.