To let you know about power outage in Spain and Portugal in case anyone has friends / relatives out there or are going on holiday today?

[MistressoftheDarkSide]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c9wpq8xrvd9t

In case it's useful for anyone?

Oh, my goodness! This must surely be a planned and organised attack. What else could be the cause? I can't think of anything like this ever happening before - and across 2 different countries as well.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/28/spain-portugal-hit-huge-power-outages/

A live feed with hopeful updates.

Bumping because communication is apparently being affected as are airports and banking. Fall out is likely to be messy.

Bump

Just popped up on my phone. It’s crazy but a good reminder to always have your preps.

Bumping.

Needless to say Barca, Madrid and most especially Lisbon airports are all declaring "high delays"..

Lisbon may actually close completely once all the current inbounds have landed.

I know nothing about these systems. Is it possible that there's some mechanical point of failure? Or is it more likely to be a cyberattack?

Given the total dependency on electricity for everything, if this is infrastructure related it's a massive concern. Given the scale, I'm leaning more towards cyber attack. "Leave the World Behind" vibes, though who or why Spain / Portugal?

This is quite a major thing....

France is now affected so not just Spain and Portugal. Wtaf?

Seeing reports of Belgium and Andorra also.

Talk of possible army deployment on the Telegraph live feed.

I only knew because the Madrid Tennis Open was affected. Didn’t realise it was so widespread. Worrying.

For info where I am at the moment is about 50 km north of the French/Spanish border, not a million km from Andorra either and (fingers crossed) we were fine. If the cuts have spread north across the border into France so far at leadt it is only in a few places.

There has been a big scrub fire way out to the east if us in the mountains, inland from the Med, and there's talk that might have taken out one if the main lines/interconnectors - which might explain some localised cuts, if they've happened, in France maybe around Perpignan, but I haven't seen the fine detail.

Interesting, thank you @notimagain

Looks like it's countrywide for Spain and Portugal, so if it's an infrastructure thing it's pretty worrying. Not an expert on national grids, but thought there were breakers to prevent such widescale outages. Pretty worrying no matter what the cause, and so disruptive for the residents etc.

I live in mallorca and we are fine. At the moment anyway!

Must be a cyber attack surely.

I have a friend on holiday in Portugal

@whirlyhead

Glad to hear you've got power 😊 maybe the islands are on a slightly different distribution network? Fingers crossed you stay electrified.

I am flying to Alicante tomorrow 😬 Going with MIL/SIL to stay in MIL villa. hoping it is all sorted over night!

The Telegraph live feed is saying it could take 6 -10 hours to restore power, so you might be OK, but I suppose best to check with your airlines in case of back logs etc x shall keep my fingers crossed for you x

DH stuck at Luton since early this morning waiting to get to Portugal, his plane is already delayed by 4 hours - he’s not a happy bunny !

Is this deliberate?

I love in Barcelona. The power has been back on for over an hour and a half and Pedro Sanchez is asking people not to spread misinformation about "cyber attacks".

There is not "mass panic" people stocked up on a few non perishables in the early afternoon and collected their kids from school early.

I didn't see anyone freaking out particularly. Mild concern.

What's it like now?