Widespread Power Outages Hit Europe, Lisbon Metro Halted, Madrid Airport Closed

On April 28, a wave of massive power outages swept through Portugal, Spain, and several other European nations, plunging cities into chaos and disrupting daily life.

In Lisbon, according to Publico, the metro system ground to a halt, trapping passengers inside trains. Porto’s metro also shuttered. Traffic lights went dark across numerous cities, mobile networks faltered, and ATMs ceased functioning. The airports in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro were forced to rely on backup generators to maintain operations.

Spain faced similar turmoil, as reported by El Mundo. Madrid’s Barajas Airport temporarily suspended operations, while metro systems in both Madrid and Barcelona came to a standstill. Traffic lights, mobile networks, and payment terminals across the country were also knocked offline. Spain’s national railway operator, Renfe, announced a complete halt to passenger train services.

Power disruptions were also reported in France, Germany, and Andorra, according to Euronews, underscoring the scale of the crisis.

Authorities and energy providers in the affected countries are scrambling to restore electricity. Publico noted that France has successfully reinstated power in some areas. In Portugal and Spain, energy companies are working to resolve the outages but have cautioned that full restoration will take time.

The cause of the blackout remains unclear. Portugal’s cabinet member Castro Almeida, speaking on RTP3, suggested a possible cyberattack, though he offered no evidence to support this theory, per Publico. Meanwhile, Euronews reported that Portugal’s energy company REN is investigating a fire in southeastern France, which may have damaged high-voltage lines, as a potential trigger for the disruptions.

As investigations continue, the outages have exposed the fragility of Europe’s energy infrastructure, leaving millions grappling with the fallout.