Alert+
Delays and Closures Expected Following Major Outages in Spain and Portugal
Intelligence cut off: 14:00 BST 28 April 2025
At approximately 12:30 local time (10:30 UTC) on 28 April, Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and parts of France and Belgium experienced power outages. The outage was most widespread in Spain and Portugal, hitting several Spanish regions in the north and south. In Portugal, the blackouts affected most of the country.
In Spain, train services have been significantly affected, with trains ceasing to operate at all stations in Spain according to the national operator, Renfe, and passengers were evacuated from metro systems and trains. Airports across the country, including Madrid’s Barajas Airport, have activated contingency generators, but considerable delays are ongoing. The disruptions have also affected hospitals, ATMs, shops, restaurants, traffic lights, and mobile networks across the region. In Portugal, the metro in Lisbon and Porto have been affected and Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado airport has been disrupted. Portuguese airline TAP Air has informed passengers to avoid heading to airports.
The Spanish operator Red Electrica has declared that it is beginning to restore power in northern and southern regions, indicating that it will ‘gradually’ return. The full restoration is expected to take six to ten hours. While parts of France temporarily lost power, electricity has since been restored.
INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS
Increased Crime and Emergency Response Delays Likely During Power Outage
While the cause has not yet been fully established, a fire in southwest France reportedly damaged a power line between Perpignan and eastern Narbonne, potentially triggering the blackouts. Portugal’s government announced that the incident appeared to stem from outside the country, and a cabinet minister suggested it may be a problem with the distribution network in Spain. Domestic media have pointed to issues with the European electric grid, which may have impacted Spain and Portugal’s national grids. Spain’s cybersecurity institute is investigating the possibility that it was caused by a cyberattack.
During the power outages, it is highly likely that there will be a temporary increase in opportunistic crime and petty theft. This is likely exacerbated by the fact that citizens have been asked not to call the emergency number, 112, unless in an emergency, to avoid overloading the phone lines.
Significant traffic disruptions are almost certain, particularly in Spain and Portugal. Traffic light outages will highly likely trigger increased congestion, which will likely be exacerbated by rail network disruptions, forcing more people to drive. There will likely also be higher rates of road traffic accidents. Portuguese police have deployed extra officers to assist with traffic circulation. There will highly likely be a knock-on effect to travel over at least the next 24 hours, even after power is restored.
Travel Risk Advice: Safety Guidelines for Spain, Portugal, Andorra, France and Belgium
- Allocate more time for travel and reassess the necessity of travel. Avoid using all public transport. Avoid all nighttime travel during power outages. Taxis should be booked well in advance due to increased demand caused by disruptions to public transport.
- Due to the highly likely increased traffic congestion and likely increased rates of road traffic accidents in areas impacted by traffic-light failures, it is advised to avoid any non-essential driving.
- If scheduled to fly, confirm flight status with the carrier prior to travelling to the airport.
- Note that power grid disruptions are likely to have short-term impacts even after power is restored. Likewise, assume that further power outages remain possible in the immediate term.
- Note that power outages can coincide with an increased risk of crime. Take heightened crime-mitigation measures.
- Avoid all solo travel and nighttime movement if the disruptions persist. Ensure that residential or office premises are secured.
- Ensure that you always carry personal identification documents or copies.
- Turn off appliances to prevent damage from electricity surges when power is restored.
- If available, use emergency light sources, like a battery-powered or wind-up torch. If using candles, be wary of fire hazards. Only run generators outside, in a clear area away from any building openings.
- Prioritise sending SMS messages over making phone calls as networks are likely to be overloaded.
- Monitor the Solace Secure platform and trusted local media. Disinformation is widely propagated during crises.
